Promotion of Primary and Rapid Osteogenesis in Healing Maxillofacial Bone Injuries

The study of bone marrow as an osteogenic induction agent in mice is progressing. It has been found that in Millipore Chambers, bone marrow can form bone and induce bone outside of the chamber. This potential is low. In addition, it has been found that bone formation occurs as early as two weeks within the chamber, and that bone induction outside the chamber does not occur simultaneously, but is delayed for a period of about six weeks. Further studies are underway to establish a more efficient model to study bone marrow activity in a millipore environment. A study was designed to compare healing histologically in standardized bone defects with and without mobility and to quantitate ATP and DNA in standard healing bone defects and fractures. Histologic results showed cartilage to be related to a lack of bony continuity of the mandible. ATP levels were less in the fractures and DNA levels were less in the defects. The results suggest that cartilage present in bone fractures is related to local tissue oxidative metabolism. Further studies will be designed to increase oxygen to healing fractures to prevent delayed and nonunion healing.