Early morphological changes in rabbit mandible after cryogenic application.

In nine rabbits cryosurgery was performed on the left lateral side of the jaw bone, using liquid nitrogen as cold medium. Simultaneous temperature recordings were made of the cryosurgically treated area by the insertion of a thermocouple into the mandibular canal. The right side of the mandible was exposed but not frozen. The animals were killed by infusion of india ink into the abdominal aorta either within 1 h or after 48 h following the cryogenic application. Specimens were analysed by microangiography according to the Spalteholz technique and by light microscopy. The microcirculation within cortical bone and marrow cavity of the frozen area was completely arrested while the alveolar artery remained patent. The circulation of the soft tissue overlying the area treated was disturbed showing signs of thrombosis and extravasation of blood corpuscles.