Quantitative analysis of osseointegration of glass fiber-reinforced composite-bioactive glass cranial implants.

Summary: When someone needs a piece of their skull replaced, doctors sometimes use a special glass and plastic patch instead of taking bone from another part of the body. But does the body's natural bone actually grow into this patch? To find out, doctors looked at 38 patients who got this special implant. They used 3D computer scans right after surgery and again one year later. The scans showed that after a year, the patients' own skull bone had grown significantly, blending right into the patch! This proves that these glass patches are a great way to help the skull heal and grow back.