Bioactive glass and calcium carbonate granules as filler material around titanium and bioactive glass implants in the medullar space of the rabbit tibia.

The effect of bioactive glass (BG) and calcium carbonate (CC) granules on bone formation around titanium and BG implants projecting into the medullary space of rabbit tibia was studied. The bone marrow tissue was removed and the medullary space was filled either with BG or CC (Biocoral) granules (phi 630-800 microns). Conical titanium and BG implants were inserted into the holes drilled in compact bone using the press fit-technique. Histomorphometry was used to measure the bone-biomaterial area in a 1.0 mm wide zone around the head of the implant and the contact between formed bone and implant. Significantly larger bone-biomaterial area was obtained around titanium implants using BG than CC granules while no difference was found in connection of BG implants. Better bone-implant contact was achieved with BG implants than with titanium implants regardless of the type of granules used. The results indicate that BG may prove to be useful as filler and coating material in connection of implants projecting into bone cavities.