Effect of Freeze-dried Bone and a Dextran Agglutinant on the Healing of Defects in the Rat Mandible

The effects of inorganic, freeze-dried bone, alone or mixed with a dextran agglutinant, on the repair of experimentally created critical-size bone defects were evaluated in the rat mandible. Histological data demonstrated a progressive resorption of the freeze-dried bone particles, without osseous proliferation into the defect, and a posterior foreign-body reaction. These results indicate that the freeze-dried bone did not induce bony healing in the critical-size defect and that the addition of dextran agglutinant did not change the tissue response. Dextran may have other applications as a biocompatible, resorbable agglutinant.