[Initial clinical experience with BAS O, a bioactive glass-ceramic material].

The authors describe a group of patients where the surgical operation involved among others filling of bone defects with glass-ceramic material--dense (as granules) or porous (as a block). Glass-ceramics BAS O were developed in the laboratories of LASAK Co. in Prague. Two defects were of traumatic origin and osteosynthesis was part of three operations. The remaining defects were juvenile bone cysts, fibrous dysplasia and benign bone tumours. The follow-up period after operation varied in the first 11 patients between 6 months and 2 years. In patients of the mentioned group no problems of healing of the surgical wound were recorded nor allergic and side-reactions. The incorporation of glass-ceramic material was followed up by X-ray after three-months intervals. In no instance lighter areas were found on the X-ray pictures suggesting a fibrous outer layer. On the contrary, the trabeculae reached gradually its close vicinity. Based on experience from experimental work and investigation of X-ray signs of healing, the patients were allowed to burden the operated extremity after three months. The basic laboratory examinations made in these patients were within the normal range. In particular calcium throughout the investigation period in the normal range, the phosphorus levels varied near the upper borderline, alkaline phosphatase levels were in many young patients elevated and acid phosphatases varied. In eight patients during the postoperative period eosinophilia was revealed in the haemogram.