The in-vivo response to a composite material obtained with polyetherimide (
PEI) reinforced with carbon/glass fibers was investigated by histological m
ethods by implanting cylinders in muscle and in bone of the New Zealand Whi
te rabbit. A common metallic alloy, widely used in orthopaedic surgery, was
used as control (Stellite). The aim of the study was to ana lyze the biolo
gical response towards the surface of the material. Composite implants and
metallic implants did not induce adverse or inflammatory reactions. The mor
phological picture produced was similar, in muscle and in bone, for both ma
terials. in muscle, cylinders were confined by an extremely thin fibrous la
yer and the overall appearance of the muscular tissue was normal. In bone,
cylinders were confined by a nearly annular rim of newly formed bone. From
these data it is possible to derive that the response to PEI-based composit
e material is corn parable with the response to metallic substrate a nd, th
en, the materia l can be suitable for clinical application. (C) 1999 Kluwer
Academic Publishers.