Tissue, cellular and subcellular events at a bone-ceramic hydroxylapatite interface.

A new polycrystalline form of hydroxylapatite, durapatite, has been examined as a cortical bone implant in dogs. Utilizing histological and electron optical techniques, it has been found that durapatite does not elicit a foreign body response and that all new bone surrounding the material is normally calcified. Bone was found to strongly adhere to durapatite and preliminary evidence suggests this bonding may be due to direct chemical attachment of bone to the material.