Tough bioactive glasses for implants : experimental study on rabbits as substitute of bone in orthopaedic surgery

This study is a first step to evaluate the properties of the new bioactive glass Crystal Bio Tech both as a bulk and a macroporous material. Both types of glass have been used to repair a 10 mm defect in six rabbit limbs and the implants have been examined for different follow-up periods (3-9 weeks). The results of the radiological and histological evaluation have been compared and are fairly encouraging. In particular, the macroporous glass exhibits good osteoinduction and osteointegration characteristics, and good osteoconduction properties