BIOMATERIALS FOR BONE SUBSTITUTION AND BO NE ALLOGRAFTS - COMPARED STUDY IN FULL WEIGHT-BEARING CONDITIONS

Three different bone substitutes were used to fill an important femora l diaphyseal defect. Eighteen implantations were performed on 10 beagl e dogs, with interlocked intramedullary nailing. 83 % of the implantat ions gave very good functionnal results whatever the bone substitute. Radiologically and histologically, substitutes made of hydroxyapatite and polymethylmethacrylate were never successful. With efficient stabi lisation with four interlocking screws, biphasic calcium phosphate cer amics showed better healing process than cortical allografts and expre ssed their interesting biological properties and their ability to supp ort weight-bearing conditions.