Reimplantation of freeze-treated bone in immediate reconstruction of the mandible.

Surgical defects encountered with corrective surgery of the mandibular complex have been repaired most successfully with autogenous composite bone grafts. Their use belies inherent consequences associated with distant donor sites. Presented here are the experiences and results in two patients whose reconstructions consisted of immediate replacement of the resected mandibular segment after its devitalization with cryogenic freezing treatments. Such treated, autologous bone provides an ideal anatomic graft, nondistinct antigenicity, and immediate restoration of form and function. Monitoring of neoosteogenesis was performed with sequential panographic, nuclear, and histologic studies that documented clinical and histologic repair.