The implants were removed after 3 months, and the degree of bone to implant contact (BIC) examined. It was observed that there was (i) no correlation between amount of mineralized bone at the site and BIC, (ii) a negative correlation between amount of fibrous tissue and BIC, but (iii) a positive cor- relation between BIC and the volume of bone marrow. It may therefore be suggested that healing of severed bone marrow may result in more rapid bone formation and BIC than healing of injured mineralized bone.