Evaluation of bone ingrowth into porous titanium implant: histomorphometric analysis in rabbits

Luana Marotta Reis De Vasconcellos,Daniel Oliveira Leite,Carlos Alberto Alves Cairo,Fernanda Nascimento De Oliveira,Yasmin Rodarte Carvalho

doi:10.1590/s1806-83242010000400005

Luana Marotta Reis De Vasconcellos, Daniel Oliveira Leite + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1806-83242010000400005

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Abstract

A porous material for bone ingrowth with adequate pore structure and appropriate mechanical properties has long been sought as the ideal bone-implant interface. This study aimed to assess in vivo the influence of three types of porous titanium implant on the new bone ingrowth. The implants were produced by means of a powder metallurgy technique with different porosities and pore sizes: Group 1 = 30 % and 180 µm; Group 2 = 30% and 300 µm; and Group 3 = 40% and 180 µm;. Six rabbits received one implant of each type in the right and left tibiae and were sacrificed 8 weeks after surgery for histological and histomorphometric analyses. Histological analysis confirmed new bone in contact with the implant, formed in direction of pores. Histomorphometric evaluation demonstrated that the new bone formation was statistically significantly lower in the group G1 than in group G3, (P = 0.023). Based on these results, increased porosity and pore size were concluded to have a positive effect on the amount of bone ingrowth.

Highlights

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are the most frequently used materials for endosseous implants in dentistry and orthopedics due to their high degree of biocompatibility and good mechanical properties.[1]
Optimal pore size for bone ingrowth ranges from 100 μm to 600 μm, and the pores must be interconnected to maintain the vascular system required for continuing bone development.[8,9]
Based on the potential for a porous surface to enhance implant-bone contact, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of pore size and porosity on bone neoformation in the use of titanium implants produced by powder metallurgy (PM) technique

Summary

Introduction

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are the most frequently used materials for endosseous implants in dentistry and orthopedics due to their high degree of biocompatibility and good mechanical properties.[1]. The architecture of a porous implant has been shown to substantially affect the bone ingrowth into pore space.[5,8,9] Optimal pore size for bone ingrowth ranges from 100 μm to 600 μm, and the pores must be interconnected to maintain the vascular system required for continuing bone development.[8,9]

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