Quantitative study on osteoconduction of apatite-wollastonite containing glass ceramic granules, hydroxyapatite granules, and alumina granules.

The osteoconductive potential of apatite-wollastonite containing glass ceramic (A-W.GC), hydroxyapatite (HA), and alumina (AL) was quantitatively evaluated by implanting them as granules into rat tibiae. The amount of mature bone formed in contact with the ceramics varied depending on the ceramic materials; it reached a plateau earliest in A-W.GC and latest in AL. The bone mass at the interface showed the same results. The osteoconductive potential was suggested to be higher in bioactive ceramics than in bioinert ceramics, and to be related to the formation rate of the surface apatite layer of the bioactive ceramics.