Revascularization and healing of onlay particulate autologous bone grafts in primates.

Two sizes of bone chips were compared to determine the size that revascularizes faster and what effect this has on the resorption of the graft. To accomplish this, autologous chips of iliac corticocancellous bone of either 2 X 2 X 2 mm or 5 X 5 X 2 mm were placed in the mandibular cortex of monkeys bilaterally. In general, the small-particle graft was quicker to revascularize, showed more osteoclastic activity, and therefore resorbed much more quickly and completely than did the large-particle graft. The resultant net gain in alveolar ridge contour was, therefore, less with the small-particle grafts.