Off-label use of rhBMP-2 for reconstruction of critical-sized mandibular defects.

Techniques for reconstructing segmental defects of the mandible have traditionally relied upon autogenous tissue transfer. Tissue engineering has brought about the promise of de novo bone formation and the possibility of reconstruction of these defects without the drawbacks of traditional techniques. Bone morphogenic proteins (BMP) have presented themselves as the most promising in this field. We present three cases where reconstruction of critical-sized mandibular defects was attempted using recombinant human BMP-2.