As the authors have reported before, bone regeneration from periosteums was observable in a short term on rat models of mandibular condyle defect. Bone regeneration started from 3 days after the operation. Bone blocks were observed in 1 week apart from the amputation stumps and joined them in another 1 week.

In this experiment study, male Wistar rats aged 6 weeks were divided into two groups – experimental and control. In experimental group ( n = 5), mandibular condyles were removed to mandibular notches, but conserved periosteums around the mandibular condyles. In control group ( n = 5), mandibular condyles were removed together with periosteums. The authors focused on the bone formation from 2 weeks after the operation.

Images of the bone regeneration were produced just after the operation, 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks later by using in vivo micro X-ray CT system R-mCT, and were observed for a long term. I-VIEW the image reconstruction soft and 3by4viewer2011 the data analyzing soft were used to examinate them.

In experimental group, bone regeneration was observed from 1 week after the operation and it became active in 3 weeks. In 4th week, bone grew to mandibular fossa but became thinner, and it caused bone loss.

Mandibular, that is membrane bone but it also has cartilage in its epiphysis and constitute temporomandibular joint, has different bone regeneration potency from other membrane bones. The authors suggested that until 3 weeks after the operation would be active bone regenerate period.

Conflict of interest: None declared.