[Osteogenic capacity of a vascularized periosteal flap tubulized around a coral implant. Experimental study on sheep].

The objective of this study was to evaluate the osteogenic capacities of a vascularized periosteal flap reinforced by a bone substitute, coral, to validate the possibility of creating prefabricated bone flaps with shapes adapted to a recipient zone, while limiting the donor site sequelae. 24 periosteal flaps, with preserved vascular pedicles, were raised from the medial femoral epiphyses of 12 ewes. In the same animal, these flaps were reinforced with a cylinder of coral and a cylinder of autologous graft. After implantation for 2 or 8 weeks depending on the animal, the flaps were submitted to histopathological and histomorphometric examination. The results of this examination demonstrated a similar course of the flaps regardless of the type of reinforcement, both in terms of implant resorption and the quantity of newly formed bone.