OSTEOGENESIS IN MUSCLE WITH COMPOSITE GRAFT OF HYDROXYAPATITE AND AUTOGENOUS CALVARIAL PERIOSTEUM - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

To investigate the bone forming activity of composite grafts of hydrox yapatite (HA) and autogenous calvarial periosteum, porous HA rods with or without the periosteum were implanted into the back muscle of whit e rabbits. They were harvested 3 and 6 months after implantation and s tudied histologically and microradiographically. Bone formation in the pores of HA occurred in three out of four composite implants of the 3 month group, and four out of five implants of the 6 month group. The two specimens without bone formation revealed irregular calcified tiss ue outside the HA implant. No formation of bone and calcified tissue t ook place in any of the specimens with HA alone. These results indicat e the potential of this new experimental system of ectopic osteogenesi s and offer the possibility of a new improved bone graft consisting of HA and autogenous periosteum.