Fig. 7

Representative histological sections of LV/BG composites in the transverse plane. a CT image of LV/BG composite. The red line indicates the location of the coronal section in the mid-section between L5 and L6. b Low (×2)-magnification image of a transverse histological section. White arrows point to new bone formed outside the fusion body, and yellow arrows point to the new bone formed as part of the fusion body between the two transverse processes at the mid-section. Cells are stained blue, bone is stained red, fibrous tissue is stained green. c High (×20)-magnification images showing new bone formed in the fusion body. NB denotes new bone, and BG represents residual bioactive glass particles. d, e High (×20)-magnification images of bone growth d within and e away from the fusion mass. Arrows point to bone lining, osteoblast-like cells