A Novel Technique For Alveolar Bone Graft: A Clinical Pilot

To preliminarily evaluate the osteogenic effect of a novel composite material combining monocortical mandibular bone with calcium phosphate cement (CPC) powder containing recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) in alveolar cleft repair. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with alveolar cleft treated with this composite material for alveolar cleft repair between December 2020 and November 2021. Radiographic assessments were performed to quantify bone resorption rates, and postoperative complications were recorded. Eight patients were included, with a mean postoperative bone resorption rate of 28.88%. Postoperative CT scans demonstrated good continuity between the newly formed bone and adjacent bone. One case developed early postoperative wound dehiscence and healed after debridement. Another case experienced wound infection at 2 weeks post-surgery, and CT imaging at 6 months after surgery revealed failure of osseous integration between the graft and adjacent bone. The composite material, comprising monocortical bone blocks as a scaffold and CPC with rhBMP-2 for osteogenic induction, achieved effective bone regeneration while significantly reducing donor site morbidity. Preliminary clinical outcomes indicate advantages such as low bone resorption rate, high-density new bone formation, and minimal surgical trauma, offering a promising alternative for alveolar cleft reconstruction. However, further studies with extended follow-up are required to validate its long-term efficacy.