No abstract

The Corals that have been used as biomaterials in bone surgery consist of 98% calcium carbonate in the form of aragonite. However, physical analysis methods, such as neutronic radioactivation show that the coral, after its implantation in vivo achieves a mineral composition comparable to that of bone. In this paper, the behaviour of a radioactive implanted sample is compared to that of a non-radioactive sample. The composition in major elements of the implant tends towards that of bone. The kinetics of ossification varies depending on whether it is a radioactive or non-radioactive implant.