Cancellous and cortical microparticulate allograft for dental implantation: an experimental study in non-human primates.

Background: : A comparison of freeze-dried cancellous and cortical particulate bone allograft was made using a non-human primate model.

Methods And Materials: : Microparticulate bone allograft (90-300 μm size) made from either cortical or cancellous bone was used to pack standard bone defects in the lower extremities of baboons, Papio hamadryas. Bone allografts were aseptically processed and freeze dried. Bone allografts were prepared from animals other than those included in this study. Six weeks after bone grafting, the animals were killed. Extremities with defects were radiographed. The bone preparations were sectioned with a diamond saw, inspected grossly, photographed, then fixed, and subjected to histologic and histomorphometric analysis.

Results: : Cylindrical bone defects were healed in all animals. No differences in the healing patterns and new bone formation were detected between defects filled with cortical and cancellous microparticulate bone preparations.

Conclusion: : Either cortical or cancellous microparticulate bone preparations can be used with equal effectiveness to promote bone regeneration in confined bone defects.