Collagen membrane and distraction osteogenesis for correcting alveolar bone defects: An animal pilot study

•Palate osseous continuity is fundamental to orthodontic movement.•Qualifying the alveolar cleft bone area approximated by distraction osteogenesis was elucidative.•A collagen membrane was placed to cover the approximation site on one palatal side of each animal.•Resorbable collagen membranes produced complete bone bridges in covered sites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of distraction osteogenesis with or without collagen membrane coverage to approximate the bone surfaces surrounding alveolar defects in pigs. The sample comprised six pigs. One animal was control, and in the other five, alveolar bone defects were created and distraction osteogenesis was carried out to approximate adjacent bone surfaces in the defect site. Resorbable membranes were placed to cover the alveolar defects on one palatal side of the experimental animals. Radiographs were taken, and the histology was studied in each bone defect site at the 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 46th days of healing. The radiographs showed that the alveolar bone defects were successfully corrected. Initial osteogenesis was delayed, but bone bridge formation was complete in the membrane-covered samples at the 46th day of healing. In the other group, bone bridge formation was incomplete at the end of the study. Distraction osteogenesis was effective in approximating transported bones to host bones. The resorbable membranes produced complete bone bridges in the approximation sites.