Biological and mechanical changes of the bone graft–cement interface after impaction allografting

Abstract

In impaction allografting, the host bone interface may consist of morsellized allograft alone or as a composite with bone cement. The objective of this study was to investigate the temporal changes in the interface for these two materials in a rat bone chamber model. To simulate the impaired endosteal circulation after impaction allografting, bone chambers were tightened bilaterally to the endosteal surfaces of proximal tibiae of mature rats and filled with pure allograft or cement/allograft composite. The cement/allograft composite-host bone interface strength was significantly higher at 3 weeks and was higher than the allograft construct failure strength. Limited allograft, but extensive periosteal remodeling, was observed at 3 weeks which resulted in a significantly increased cortical porosity and cortical thickness. The allograft porosity decreased significantly at 6 weeks indicating extensive remodeling of the allograft bone. Little or no remodeling of the allograft particles in the cement was found. At 6 weeks a new medullary canal was formed, and the endosteal cortex was partially absorbed. Endosteal absorption resulting in medullary canal widening in revision THR may be responsible for clinically unstable stems after impaction allografting.