[Revitalization of bone transplants using vascular implants].

For investigation of revascularization of free autogenous bone grafts by implantation of blood vessels the authors used rats as experimental material. The arteries or bundles of arteries were implanted into the spongiosa of the free bone transplant--a tall vertebra. It was revealed that capillary proliferation which promotes revascularization of the graft started in the adventitia of the implanted artery. Therefore it is not necessary to severe the artery, as recommended in methods used in previous studies. Revascularization occurs even when the implanted artery retains its original function. Implantation of blood vessels does not prevent extensive necrosis of the graft but indicates osteogenesis which results in substitution of the necrotic tissue.