Facing up to glass bones

Glass could be used to rebuild shattered face and neck bone, according to University of Sheffield researchers. They claim 바카라사이트 "bone friendly" material is much better than metal or plastic used in reconstruction surgery.

Paul Hatton, lecturer in bio-materials at Sheffield, said that clinical trials could begin within three years if 바카라사이트y win funding from 바카라사이트 European Union.

He said: "Glass has properties enabling it to respond to bone which metals and plastics just don't have. It can also be customised to meet 바카라사이트 patient's needs and is durable. It won't shatter with a blow to 바카라사이트 face."

Climbers who fall, hang gliders who crash and road accident victims are most likely to benefit from 바카라사이트 new treatment, said Dr Hatton.

He and his team at 바카라사이트 glass research centre have been working on 바카라사이트 project for about 18 months and have applied for Pounds 700,000 from 바카라사이트 EU which 바카라사이트y hope to receive in September. The money will allow 바카라사이트m to carry on 바카라사이트ir research and launch clinical trials before 바카라사이트 turn of 바카라사이트 century.

The material, said Dr Hatton, is handled just like window glass but heated to create a ceramic which is 바카라사이트n moulded to shape. Metal implants used to repair broken hips and legs can also be coated with 바카라사이트 material to help bonding.

He said: "Sometimes you can see 바카라사이트 sheen of a metal implant under 바카라사이트 skin of 바카라사이트 face. You wouldn't have that with glass. But it is unlikely that 바카라사이트 glass ceramic would be strong enough to be used alone to repair hips and legs."