This work was carried out at the Department of Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, in co-operation with the Department of Anatomy, Department of Pathology, Institute of Dentistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Oulu and Research Center, Rautaruukki OY, Raahe, Finland, during the years 1995–1999.
I am deeply grateful to Professor Matti Kairaluoma, M.D., Ph.D., Head of the Department of Surgery, who provided excellent conditions, candid support and encouragement during this work.
I owe my warmest thanks to my supervisor, Docent Willy Serlo, M.D., Ph.D., for valuable advice and criticism and for introducing me to scientific research.
I express my special thanks to Peter Sandvik, D.Sc., for suggesting the idea of working with NiTi shape memory alloy and for being a metallurgical expert during this project.
I am grateful to Professor Antti Yli-Urpo, D.D.S., Ph.D., and Docent Jaakko Puranen, M.D., Ph.D., for reviewing the present manuscript and providing constructive comments and criticism.
My warmest thanks are due to my co-authors: Docent Juha Tuukkanen, D.D.S.,Ph.D., for excellent guidance in the modern methods of bone research and for giving a lot of time and help, Docent Matti Kallioinen, M.D., Ph.D., for giving invaluable expert assistance in the histological examinations, Docent Tuula Salo, D.D.S., Ph.D., Hannu Pernu, D.D.S., M.D., and Elina Niemi, D.D.S, for helping with the cell culture studies, Petri Lehenkari, M.D., Ph.D., for introducing me to the microworld, Professor Paavo Perämäki, Ph.D., for his expert help and comments on trace element analysis, and Docent Juhani Junila, M.D., Ph.D., for surgical help. I express my special thanks to my good friend Erkki Niemelä, M.D., with whom the NiTi work was started.
My sincere thanks go to my skillful teachers in hand surgery: Docent Timo Raatikainen, M.D., Ph.D., Head of Hand Surgery, and Docent Outi Kaarela, M.D., Ph.D., for their encouragement and patience while I have been absent from clinical work due to this project.
I wish to thank Jorma Pudas, Lic.Vet.Sc., Ms. Seija Seljänperä, and Mr. Veikko Lähteenmäki for advice with the animal experiments, Mrs. Minna Vanhala and Mrs. Mirja Vahera for help with the histological specimens, Mrs. Liisa Kärki for technical assistance in preparing the figures, Pentti Nieminen, Ph.D., for consultation in statistics and Mrs. Sirkka-Liisa Leinonen for revising the English language of this thesis.
During these years, the support of my friends has been extremely valuable. I give my special thanks to Timo “the multitalent” Heikkinen, M.D., Ph.D., Juha “K. Richard” Koskenkari, M.D., Martti “the man” Lakovaara, M.D., Tero “the telecaster” Rautio, M.D., Hannu “the old party animal” Ruokolainen, M.D., Juha “the pain lover” Välimäki, M.D., Ph.D., and all the other Rio de Hailuoto Club members and Venezian Brothers, Timo ”triathlon trainer” Järvelä, M.D., the OYS marathon team: especially Petri ”Sprint” Koivunen, M.D. and Ilpo ”Sport” Typpö, M.D., and family Vehkala.
I wish to thank my parents Docent Pauli Ryhänen, M.D., Ph.D. and Elsi Ryhänen and my brother Tapio Ryhänen for their support and encouragement throughout my life.
Finally I wish to express my loving thanks to my family, my wife Anna-Leena, without whom this work never could have been success and whose patience and love have made this possible and my four super kids Aleksi, Joonas, Anna and Emma. We made it!
This research was financially supported by the Academy of Finland, Technology Development Centre of Finland, Research Foundation of Orion Corporation and Finnish Orthopaedic Association.
Oulu, April 1999 Jorma Ryhänen