Comparison of Cranial and Iliac Autologus Bone Grafts and Their Effects on the Success Rates of Subsequent Osseointegrated Intra/Extraoral Implant Application in the Miniature Swine

Calvarial bone has been reported to be superior to iliac bone for onlay bone grafting due to decreased resorption. This study evaluated the physical, histologic and radiographic characteristics of calvarial and cortico- cancellous iliac onlay bone grafts in nine Pitman-Moore miniature swine at two weeks, one-, two-, four-, six-, eight-, ten- and twelve-month intervals. Compared to iliac grafts, the calvarial onlay grafts had more than a two-fold greater radiographic density. Statistical analysis of the mature grafts using the Standard of Estimated Means of the bone graft volumes revealed 85 retention of the calvarial grafts compared with 34 retention of the grafted iliac bone. There was no subjective difference in the rate or degree of revascularization between the two grafted materials.