Abstract
Bone grafts in the form of cortico-cancellous blocks were prepared from the iliac crest of two patients aged 14 years with unilateral cleft lip and palate, and these were transplanted in the alveolar clefts of the individual patients, respectively. Within 5 or 8 years after transplantation in the patiens, botn grafts were resorbed spontaneously and reduced to less than half in size, forming a slender bone bridge with low marginal bone-level. It was also found that these bone grafts continued to resorb for a much longer period as compared with cancellous bone chips when used as autologous grafts in other patients. Based on these results, it is suggested that cortico-cancellous bone may not be suitable for the transplantation of bone grafts in the alveolar clefts, and that preferably particulate cancellous bones should be used.
