Novel animal model of calvarial defect: part IV. Reconstruction of a calvarial wound complicated by durectomy.

Background: Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) has been shown to be an effective therapy in the acute calvarial defect wound and in calvarial defects complicated by chronic scar and radiation. The authors assessed the effectiveness of rhBMP-2-mediated bone regeneration in calvarial defects complicated by durectomy.

Methods: Sixteen adult New Zealand White rabbits underwent subtotal calvariectomy and dural removal, followed by dural repair and reconstruction in one of four groups: empty (n = 3), vehicle (buffer solution on an absorbable collagen sponge, n = 2), autologous graft (n = 3), or rhBMP-2 repair (rhBMP-2/absorbable collagen sponge, n = 8).