The Importance of a Maintained Medullary Blood Supply for the Survival of Revascularized Free Bone Grafts: Preliminary Studies

Abstract

The importance of an intact medullary blood supply for bone cell survival in free microvascular bone transfers was investigated in 8 beagle dogs. Through a total osteotomy and incision of the surrounding soft tissues, the posterior part of the ninth rib was completely isolated on the intercostal artery and vein. In four of the dogs medullary blood supply to this rib segment was blocked by a semitotal osteotomy near the proximal end of the rib. At sacrifice (one day and 1, 2 and 4 weeks after the operation) bone survival in the isolated rib segment was evaluated by fluorochrome bone labeling, histology and microangiography. The results suggest that the bone segment can survive on the periosteal blood supply alone, with eliminated medullary supply, but further studies are necessary.