Assessment of bone vascularity in the anterior mandible using laser Doppler flowmetry

Objectives: In irradiated bone, a method assessing vascularity of intended implant recipient bone would be of clinical significance in preventing early implant loss and in reducing the risk of osteoradionecrosis due to surgical oral implant insertion. At present, assessing bone vascularity clinically, using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), seems to be realistic. The hypotheses of this study were that bone vascularity in the human anterior mandible can be assessed during implant insertion by LDF and that the recorded LDF values are providing standard data for bone vascularity in the human anterior mandible.

Material and methods: Twenty-three randomly selected non-irradiated edentulous patients scheduled for treatment with oral implants in the anterior mandible were assigned, 12 men and 11 women. The patients' history of edentulousness and resorption of the residual alveolar ridges were registered. In pilot osteotomy sites of planned implant insertion, the bone vascularity was registered, using LDF and expressed in perfusion units (PU). The statistical distribution and characteristics of the LDF values were explored, separately for men and women.

Results: A total of 41 pilot osteotomy sites were recorded with a mean LDF value of 25.80 PU. No obvious gender difference was found and LDF values did not show a relationship with patient's age or history of edentulousness.

Conclusion: The hypotheses that bone vascularity in the human anterior mandible can be assessed during implant insertion by LDF and that the recorded LDF values are providing standard data for bone vascularity in the human anterior mandible, were confirmed.