[The use of coral as a substitute for maxillofacial bone reconstruction].
A kind of coral, Porites, which was originated from the Madreporaria reef builders in Hainan Province, was studied as a bone substitute. It is almost composed of aragonite (CaCO(s)) and the structure shows interconnected micropores with a-mean diameter of 150-200 microns which is suitable for bone ingrowth. The coral was implanted successfully into the defects in inferior border of mandibles of 8 rabbits for 6 months. Then it was used clinically as a bone substitute in maxillofacial surgery for 22 patients who were followed up for 6-24 months. With X-ray, histological and clinical examination, the results showed that the coral had a good tolerance and elicited no deleterious host response. After implanted, the coral is acted as a bone conductor and can promote the bone repair of defects. It seems to be a useful bone substitute.
Faculty of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou.
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Zeng
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001845:Bone Cysts / Q000601:surgery; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery; D003063:Cnidaria; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007571:Jaw Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002119:Calcium Carbonate