A comparative study of the early vascularization of porous carbon and bone as a graft.

Utilizing rats as a model, it was demonstrated that both iliac crest bone and porous carbon disks, when used as only grafts, become vascularized as early as 3 days. There is no significant difference between the two. The soft tissues, periosteum, and recipient bone are all capable of supplying vascularization to the graft or implant.