ORIGINAL ARTICLE Effectiveness of synthetic hydroxyapatite versus Persian Gulf coral in an animal model of long bone defect reconstruction

Background There is a continuing search for bone sub-stitutes to avoid or minimize the need for autogenous bone grafts. Hydroxyapatite, a crystalline phase of calcium phosphate found naturally in bone minerals, has shown tremendous promise as a graft material. Coral is an os-teoconductive material used as a bone graft extender. This study examined the effect of hydroxyapatite and Persian Gulf coral on osteogenesis in vivo using a rabbit model of bone healing. Materials and methods A critical-size defect of 10 mm elongation was created in the radial diaphysis of 36 rabbits and supplied with either hydroxyapatite or coral or left empty (control group). Radiographs of each forelimb were taken postoperatively on day 1 and then at 2, 4, 6, an