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While the Acre State Hospital Foundation (Fundhacre) moves towards enabling bone transplants, dentist Pancho Roque, who works in Rio Branco, states that the procedure has already been carried out in the state since 2008.
Roque, who works at the Oral Orto Clin clinic, reported that he was one of the pioneers to perform bone transplants in the state, a procedure little publicized at the time, but with extremely positive results.
“Bone transplantation, unlike grafting, uses human tissue, something that is only possible through bone banks. In Acre, we have been carrying out this type of procedure since 2008. It is not a new procedure for us”, explained Pancho Roque.
Dentist Pancho Roche during a bone transplant, a pioneering procedure in Rio Branco, carried out since 2008/Photo courtesy
According to him, the procedure was used especially to treat patients with atrophied jaws, often due to complete prosthetics or dentures. Roque further explained that the results were very positive, with a very high success rate, which is around 99%.
“Rejection is practically non-existent, as human bone tissue is very biocompatible. Since 2008, we have never lost a case of bone transplantation, only implants and bone grafts, but never the transplant”, he stated.
Roque also detailed that, at the time, he needed to be accredited to carry out human bone transplant procedures (which remains to this day), and that Dr. Tadeu Moura, another dentist from Acre, was also accredited to request bone tissue human.
However, he does not know whether Dr. Tadeu actually performed the procedure and, therefore, would he be the pioneer of bone transplantation in Acre. Roque also highlighted that, alongside his partner Dr. Lúcio Brasil, they have been performing major surgeries together for 20 years, and that Lúcio already has 30 years of experience in the dental field.
“Today, we are doing fewer bone transplants, as current implants are longer, measuring between 3 and 7 cm, and can reach the upper bone of the face, close to the eye region, which avoids the need for a transplant. But transplantation is still essential in cases of major bone loss, such as in patients with bone tumors”, explained the dentist.
The treatment is mainly used to reconstruct jaw bones and other parts of the face, providing functional and aesthetic rehabilitation to patients/Photo courtesy
He also explained the difference between the types of bone grafts and transplants. “Autogenous bone” is the most common, taken from the patient himself, usually from the jaw or pelvis, while “bone transplant” involves the use of human bone tissue from a donor, available through bone banks.
Other types of grafts include “homologous” bones, taken from an individual of the same species, and “heterologous” bones, which come from different species, such as bovine bone. There are also synthetic grafts, produced in the laboratory, which eliminate the need for a second surgery to obtain the bone.
“Despite the advancement of implants, which are now made more effectively, transplants are still necessary to rehabilitate facial symmetry in patients who have suffered major bone loss, such as in cases of tumors or serious accidents,” explained Roque.
Image of the box containing human bone tissue intended for transplantation. The procedure requires specialized accreditation to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the treatment/Photo courtesy
The effectiveness of the procedure
Roque highlighted that the effectiveness of bone transplantation is almost 100%, with a very low rejection rate, given that human bone tissue is highly compatible with the recipient’s body.
“Genetics can always influence, but in terms of rejection, human bone transplantation is much safer than other types of transplants,” said the dentist.
The relevance of bone transplantation
Bone transplantation is an important technique, especially for patients who have suffered major bone loss due to conditions such as tumors or accidents. The bone tissue used can be taken from human bone banks, offering a more effective and safe alternative for bone reconstruction, especially in cases of rehabilitation of the face and jaw. The technique not only improves the patient’s aesthetics, but also allows the recovery of functionality, such as chewing and speaking, providing a better quality of life.
“These procedures are essential for many patients and have the potential to transform lives. The fact that we now have this technique being recognized and carried out by Fundhacre is a great achievement for the state, but in Acre, we have already carried out this procedure for a long time”, concluded Pancho Roque.
