Collagen tube containers: an effective means of controlling particulate hydroxyapatite implants.

HA has been used successfully as a hard tissue graft in alveolar ridge augmentation; however, its particulate nature limits its application to select cases. A study in rats was done to examine the feasibility of a combined system of HA encased in collagen film as a hard tissue graft. Gross, radiographic, and histologic examination showed that collagen film helped to shape and contain the HA particulate during healing for as long as 4 weeks. The collagen did not interfere with the normal tissue response around the HA particulate.