The viability of rib grafts transplanted with the periosteal blood supply.

We present two additional cases of microvascular rib transplants supplied by the periosteal circulation through the anterior intercostal vessels. We studied the viability of the bone by the uptake of fluorochrome markers. We also examined thin sections of calcified bone to demonstrate the deposition of new osteoid by osteoblasts, and the resorption of bone by osteoclasts. These studies confirm the early viability of the transplanted bone.