Biograft Block Hydroxyapatite: A Ray of Hope in the Reconstruction of Maxillofacial Defects.

BACKGROUND: Improving quality of human life has been the rationale for increase in the applications of bone substitute materials for bone regeneration. High prevalence of loss of bone tissue due to disease remains a major challenge for reconstruction. Shortcomings of autografts and allografts have made the clinicians go for artificial implant materials.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To prospectively study the structural and esthetic reconstruction of resected mandibular site with biograft porous block hydroxyapatite (BBHA). The study evaluated the efficacy of BBHA as a material for reconstruction of large bone defects.

METHODS: Patients requiring reconstruction after resection of cyst/tumors and who denied conventional reconstruction were enrolled for BBHA reconstruction during 2008 to 2015. All patients were clinically and radiologically followed and assessed for a range of 4 to 60 months for outcome.

RESULTS: During follow-up periods no one had infection, dissolution, migration, or absorption, but new bone formation and bridging observed in proximity with graft and bone interface.

CONCLUSION: Structural and esthetic reconstruction using BBHA significantly reduces donor site morbidity. BBHA have satisfactory results in relation to esthetics and are useful material for reconstruction. Clinical application of this technique will minimize an additional surgical procedure required to harvest donor bone. BBHA provides good esthetics and structural balance to face. As this is an ongoing study the outcome is expected to improve. The incorporation of implants in the BBHA block may fulfill the function also in near future.