MEMBRANE-PERMEABILITY IS UNNECESSARY FOR GUIDED GENERATION OF NEW BONE - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN THE RABBIT

The aim of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that membrane permeability is necessary in bone formation using the principle of gu ided tissue regeneration. On the forehead of 8 rabbits, titanium test cylinders were anchored in the calvaria. These cylinders were either c overed by an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane generat ing a chamber for bone formation or they were sealed off by cast titan ium. The implanted cylinders were covered by resuturing the periosteum and the cutaneous flap. After 8 months of healing, new bone had forme d in all cylinders in all animals irrespective of whether the chamber for bone formation was sealed off by cast titanium or the ePTFE membra ne. Based on these results, we conclude that permeability of the membr ane is not necessary in the guided generation of new bone.