OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to study the changes in the inferior alveolar vessels and angiogenesis following mandibular lengthening with different rates of distraction.

METHODSBilateral mandibular corticotomies were performed in 6 goats. The mandibles in 6 goats were lengthened 10.0 mm using a custom-made distractor with different rates of distraction (1.0 mm/d[n = 3] and 2.0 mm/d [n = 3]); the other 2 nondistracted mandibles served as control. The goats with distracted mandibles were killed at 2 weeks after completion of distraction. The inferior alveolar vessels with distracted calluses were harvested and processed for histologic and morphometric evaluation.

RESULTSNo pathological changes in the inferior alveolar vessels were found following mandibular osteodistraction. However, the number of microvessels within distraction gap in the animals distracted at a rate of 1.0 mm/day was greater than that in the goats distracted using a rate of 2.0 mm/day, and more mature newly formed bone trabeculae was observed.

CONCLUSIONThere were no significant changes in the inferior alveolar vessels after mandibular lengthening with distraction osteogenesis, but rapid distraction may have adverse effects on the aniogenesis in the distraction gap.