Ferretti, CarloRipamonti, Ugo2021-09-292021-09-292020-07Ferretti, C. & Ripamonti, U. 2020, 'Long term follow-up of pediatric mandibular reconstruction with human transforming growth factor-β3', Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 1424-1429.1049-2275 (print)1536-3732 (online)10.1097/SCS.0000000000006568http://hdl.handle.net/2263/81999Translating bone regeneration induced by recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins from animal models to human patients has proven inexplicably inconsistent. This prompted us to test in 5 pediatric patients, an alternative osteoinductive morphogen, recombinant human transforming growth factor β3 (hTGF-β3), to reconstruct mandibular defects of such a size to preclude reconstruction with autologous bone. An osteoinductive implant of human demineralized bone matrix (DBM) loaded with 125 μg hTGF-β3 per gram of DBM was implanted into one defect, and 250 μg hTGF-β3 per gram of DBM in another. Thereafter in 3 patients limited amounts of particulate cortico-cancellous bone graft harvested from the posterior iliac crest were combined with 250 μg hTGF-β3 per gram of DBM. Patients were followed up for 3 to 6 years. Three patients achieved clinically significant osteoinduction, 1 patient with hTGF-β3 only, and 2 by combining hTGF-β3 with a small supplement of autologous bone. One patient with hTGF-β3 only and followed up for 5 years retains a viable reconstruction but has had sub-optimal bone regeneration. One patient had osteoinductive failure due to sepsis although the plate reconstruction remains viable. Recombinant human TGF-β3 initiates osteoinduction in humans and potentiates autologous bone graft activity allowing the reconstruction of large mandibular defects in pediatric patients.en© 2020 by Mutaz B. Habal, MDHuman transforming growth factor β3 (hTGF-β3)Demineralized bone matrix (DBM)Bone morphogenetic proteinsHumanMandibleTissue engineeringTransforming growth factor- β3 (TGF-β3)Postprint Article