[Monitoring the incorporation of bioactive glass ceramics in the area of the acetabulum after surgical revision of the hip joint arthroplasty by scintigraphy.].

The authors investigated changes of osteoblastic activity at the site of a reconstructed defect of the acetabulum after aseptic loosening of a total endoprosthesis of the hip joint by administration of an osteotropic radiopharmaceutical preparation, methylendiphosphonate, labelled with 99mTc. The defect of the acetabulum was filled with bioactive glass ceramic material BAS-0 (Lasak Co., Prague) in the shape of dense granules 4-8 mm in size and a metal antiprotrusion basket. Into the reconstructed acetabulum a new polyethylene socket of the endoprosthesis was implanted. Examination by the two-head camera Helix of Elscint Co. was performed within two weeks after operation. Healing in the described group of ten patients was without complications, after three months the patients burdened the operated joint partly, after six months they burdened it by half their weight and after another three months by their whole weight. Immediately after operation the metabolic acitivity in the vicinity of the defect exceded the reference activity of normal bone by 50% The authors discuss possibilities and advantages of the mentioned examination in investigations of the incorporation and function of glass ceramic prostheses of osseous tissue. Key words: bioactive glass ceramics, scintigraphy, osteotropic radiopharmaceutical preparation, 99mTc methylendiphosphonate, reconstruction of acetabular defect.