Magnesium-enriched hydroxyapatite as bone filler in an ameloblastoma mandibular defect.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical performance of a magnesium-enriched hydroxyapatite biomaterial used as bone substitute in a case of mandibular ameloblastoma treated with conservative surgery. A 63 year old male patient was treated for an ameloblastoma in the anterior mandibular profile. After tissue excision, the bone defect was filled with a synthetic hydroxyapatite biomaterial enriched with magnesium ions, in order to promote bone tissue regeneration and obtain a good aesthetic result. Twenty-five months after surgery, due to ameloblastoma recurrence in an area adjacent to the previously treated one, the patient underwent to a further surgery. In that occasion the surgeon performed a biopsy in the initially treated area, in order to investigate the nature of the newly-formed tissue and to evaluate the bone regenerative potential of this biomaterial by clinical, radiographic and histological analyses. The clinical, radiographic and histological evaluations showed various characteristics of bone remodeling stage with an ongoing osteogenic formation and a good osteo-integration. In conclusion, magnesium-enriched hydroxyapatite used as bone substitute in a mandibular defect due to ameloblastoma excision showed an effective bone regeneration at 25 months follow-up, demonstrating an excellent biocompatibility and a high osteo-integration property.