Bridging the gap. Characterization of the cellular inter-connection between human alveolar and skeletal bone after microvascular transplanta

In oncological head and neck surgery, microvascular free fibula flaps have become the gold standard in bony reconstruction, especially for the mandible. Still, contradictory data on the ossification in the gap region between the local bone (Alveolar bone = AB) and the transplanted bone (Fibula bone = FB) exists. Besides individual parameters like patient anatomy, mechanical integrity, and the postoperative load, the role of the bone 3D osteocyte network (OCN) topology at the AB-FB interface have not been examined yet. Since the OCN plays a fundamental role in cell–cell contact, nutrition, signaling, and even in bone remodeling, we plan to examine the OCN topology in and adjacent to the gap region with nanoCT on ID16B. These results will help visualize the inter-connections of newly formed bone tissue, and help understand to what extent the integration of the transplanted bone occurs via the OCN as opposed to the blood vessel system through osteoblast/osteoclast activity.