A comparison of particulate allogeneic and particulate autogenous bone grafts into maxillary alveolar clefts in dogs.

Bilateral complete mature alveolar clefts with oronasal fistulae were surgically created in dogs to directly compare the rate and quantity of bone formation between autogenous particulate bone and cancellous marrow, undecalcified freeze-dried allogeneic bone, and controls of repaired clefts without bone graft material. This study demonstrated autogenous particulate bone and marrow to be the superior graft material, although the allogeneic bone demonstrated bone formation through inductive mechanisms. The bone formation through induction was delayed compared with the autogenous graft system, and was quantitatively insufficient to support eruptive or orthopedic forces.