Abstract
Facial skeletal defects, a major clinical problem, occur from many different sources: surgery, trauma, or growth deficiencies. These defects often need surgical correction to improve vital functions and esthetics 1 Ruiz R.L. Ritter A.M. Turvey T.A. et al. Nonsyndromic craniosynostosis: diagnosis and contemporary surgical management. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin N Am. 2004; 16: 447-463 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (8) Google Scholar . Generally, these defects are repaired with autogenous bone grafts 2 Panetta N.J. et al. Tissue Engineering in Cleft Palate and Other Congenital Malformations. Pediatr Res. 2008; 63: 545-551 Crossref PubMed Scopus (40) Google Scholar from sources like iliac crest, tibia/fibula, rib, calvarium, etc. This approach, however, has several major negatives such as donor site morbidity, unreliable bone volume, as well as site-specific complications. Distraction osteogenesis is becoming increasingly popular to treat some craniofacial defects, but unfortunately often involves long treatment time. Recent scientific advances in bone tissue engineering have introduced the prospect to speed it up. The present study was to test the feasibility of combing tissue engineering techniques into mandibular distraction osteogenesis in a large preclinical animal model.
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