Histologic Analysis of the Interface of a Titanium Imlant Retrieved From a Nonvascularized Mandibular Block Graft After a 10-Month Loading Period

The combined use of bone grafts and osseointegrated implants a ppears to improve the long-term prognosis of transplanted bone. One question pertaining to the use of grafted bone is whether the biologic reaction to implants placed in grafted bone is the same as that seen under nongrafted conditions. A mandibular discontinuity defect in a 63-year-old female patient was repaired with a nonvascularized block graft into which 3 titanium implants were placed. After a 10-month loading period, one of the implants was retrieved and treated to obtain thin ground sections. The histologic examination showed mature bone in close contact with the implant surface; no gaps, fibrous tissue, or inflammatory cells were seen at the interface. No resorption phenomena were present. The bone at the interface was highly mineralized. The features of the regenerated bone and the bone-implant interface in grafted bone were similar to those seen in nongrafted situations; no differences were found with results presented in the literature concerned with retrieved implants placed into vascularized grafts.