[Changes in the inferior alveolar vessels and angiogenesis following mandibular lengthening with different rates of distraction]

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to study the changes in the inferior alveolar vessels and angiogenesis following mandibular lengthening with different rates of distraction.

Methods: Bilateral mandibular corticotomies were performed in 6 goats. The mandibles in 6 goats were lengthened 10.0 mm using a custom-made distractor with different rates of distraction (1.0 mm/d[n = 3] and 2.0 mm/d [n = 3]); the other 2 nondistracted mandibles served as control. The goats with distracted mandibles were killed at 2 weeks after completion of distraction. The inferior alveolar vessels with distracted calluses were harvested and processed for histologic and morphometric evaluation.

Results: No pathological changes in the inferior alveolar vessels were found following mandibular osteodistraction. However, the number of microvessels within distraction gap in the animals distracted at a rate of 1.0 mm/day was greater than that in the goats distracted using a rate of 2.0 mm/day, and more mature newly formed bone trabeculae was observed.

Conclusion: There were no significant changes in the inferior alveolar vessels after mandibular lengthening with distraction osteogenesis, but rapid distraction may have adverse effects on the aniogenesis in the distraction gap.