Growth of costochondral grafts in reconstruction of the mandibular condyle: an experimental study in domestic pigs.

Abstract

Reconstruction of the mandibular condyle with costochondral grafts (CCGs) in children may result in overgrowth at the reconstructed side of the mandible. In this study we report on the effects of functional stimuli on growth and morphology of growth plates of CCGs used for immediate mandibular condyle replacement in 10 juvenile pigs. The mandibular condyles were resected unilaterally and immediately reconstructed with autogenous CCGs. Another CCG was placed submuscularly on one tibia. The lengths of both CCGs and of one rib before resection were measured at operation and 12 weeks later. The grafts were labelled with intraperitoneal injections of oxytetracycline and alizarin eight and 12 weeks postoperatively, respectively. The extent of growth of the CCGs in the two environments was similar, so we concluded that the functional stimuli in the TMJ environment had only a minor influence on the extent of growth of the CCGs. The morphology of the growth plate of the CCGs had changed considerably.