Comparative Osteointegration Testing of Titanium Implants in Relation to Gender After One Month of Implantation in Rabbit Femur

Abstract

The biologic material used in this study is represented by 6 rabbits, 3 males and 3 females, aged 11 months and having an average weight of 4 kg. After general anaesthesia was performed, 2 mm diameter titanium implants were surgically inserted in the femur. Postoperative care of the animals included daily observation. After 4 weeks the animals were euthanized according to the guidelines. The femurs were collected along with the implants and processed for histological examination. The samples were placed in Stieve mixture for fixation, dehydrated with ethylic alcohol, clarified with 1-Butanol, and followed by paraffin embedding. 5 micrometers sections were cut using a microtome, and then stained using the Goldner trichrome staining method and were examined using an Olympus BX41 microscope with an attached digital camera for image capturing. In all animals, the implant was well tolerated by the bone and soft tissue implantation bed. The osteointegration process took place through bone formation around the implant, with variations in thickness and structure throughout the bone-implant interface. Except for the accelerated speed of osteointegration steps, observed in males, the osteointegration process follows certain stages and no gender related differences. The rapid progress of osteointegration in males resulted in a faster process in this gender compared to females. This aspect is clinically relevant for the appropriate evaluation of waiting periods from implant placement to prosthetic mounting, which according to this study is different in males and females.