Regeneration of bone in the presence of calcium sulfate.

I describe 110 patients in whom diseased and destructed bone was restored to normal healthy bone. The first ten patients were healed by using bismuth-iodoform, and the following 100 patients were treated using the hemihydrate of calcium sulfate (CaSO4.2H3O). Both alloplasts were replaced in all patients by normal healthy cancellous bone within two to four months. It is a safe procedure in which bone regeneration is stimulated to a maximum rate. During June 1974, bismuth-iodoform was used as an allograft. On July 9, 1974, the first three operations in the history of otorhinolaryngology, to my knowledge, were performed using CaSO4. Normal physiologic absorption of CaSO4 occurs with the simultaneous deposition of autogenous cancellous bone. Calcium sulfate is an outstanding bone substitute, ensuring bone formation and giving results comparable with autogenous bone, if not better.