ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Porous hydroxyapatite is resorbable and osteoconductive, so it is slowly replaced by ingrowing new bone. Optimal pore geometry for osteoconduction, however, has not been determined yet. The objective of this investigation was to assess both the histological response and the reinforcing effects of bone ingrowth within the porous hydroxyapatite implants depending on pore size. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four kinds of cylindrical types (50, 100, 300, 500 micrometer) of porous hydrox-yapatite were prepared. Fifty-six white rabbits were divided into 4 groups and porous hydroxyapatite block was inserted through the medial cortical window of a proximal tibia. Histomorphological changes were examined using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Biomechanical compression test was performed using a material test machine. RESULTS: Hydroxyapatite implants appeared to have no early adverse effects, such as inflammation and foreign body reaction. Osteoconduction through the pores was found in all four implants and new bone was found on the surface of pores with no histologically demonstrable intervening nonosseous tissue. At four weeks after implantation, new bone was arranged in a concentric pattern around the vessel, similar to osteon. New bone formation through pores was most evident at 300 micrometer-sized type. At 8 weeks, active osteoconduction was also found at 50 micrometer-sized type. Evidence of bone marrow formation within porous hydroxyapatite was found. In a biomechanical study, ultimate compression strength significantly increased in the 300 micrometer-sized type, after 8 weeks implantation compared to preimplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Porous hydroxyapatite implanted into rabbit tibia showed biological fixation and osteointegration. A pore size of 300 micrometer was most effective for bone ingrowth. Osteoconduction also took place in 50 micrometer-sized cylindrical pores.
Subject(s)
Rabbits , Bone Marrow , Bone Regeneration , Durapatite , Foreign-Body Reaction , Haversian System , Inflammation , Microscopy , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Osteogenesis , TibiaABSTRACT
The change of conditions of hydroxyapatite synthesis can affect not oniy the material properties, but also the body reaction to the hydroxyapatite implants. To find out conditions for preparing more biocompatible hydroxyapatite implants as bone graft substitute. we evaluated the biologic response to the dense synthetic hydroxyapatite implants, made with various synthetic conditions, placed in corticocancellous defects of rabbits' long bone. The hydroxyapatites were synthesized with coprecipitation technique using Ca(NO3) 4H2O and (NH4)2HPO4, made with various Ca/P ratio and aging temperatures. Four kinds of hydroxyapatites were selected to use as implants(HA I: Ca/P ratio 1.5, aging temperature 90degrees C; HA V :1.5 , 30degrees C; HA VI: 1.83, 30degrees C; and HA lX: 1.67, 30degrees C). These hydroxyapatites were pressed and sintered at l300degrees C to fabricate dense plates. Biomechanical test and rnorphological examination were performed using Instron, light microscope and electron microscope. The characteristics of hydroxyapatite powder and sintered body were more significantly affected by siarting Ca/P ratios. The bonding strength of HA IX(1.67, 30degrees C) with bone was grcatest at 4 or 8 weeks after implantation with statistically significant difference(p<0.05). Bonding behavior betweeb HA IX and bone was most excellent in terms of new bone formation and new bone ingrowth into resorbed surface of hydroxyapatite plate.