Introduction: One of the most frequently seen complications of structural allograft recontructions are either delayed or nonunion. The effect of the periosteum on union of autoclaved segmental bone grafts were investigated in rabbits.

Method: Segmental bone defects, 10 milimeters long, in the middle of the left radius were created in 16 adult rabbits. The resected bones, autoclaved 15 minutes at 120 C and reimplanted and fixed with intramedullary Kirchner wires. In group one, 8 rabbits’ graft-host bone junctions were covered with periosteal fiap and in group two, graft-host bone junctions were deperiostized. The plain X-rays were taken at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks. The rabbits were sacrificed at the end of 8 weeks. Specimens were also examined histologically.

Results: Both radiological and histological results were evaluated. In group one, the results revealed more callus and healing than group two, and they were found statistically significant.

Discussion: Periosteal fiaps are easy to perform and enhances the healing of the graft-host junctions. The periosteal fiap technique is effective on the healing of graft-host bone junctions and this technique will worth applying to structural allografts.