Bone formation and remodeling around implanted materials under load-bearing conditions.

ABSTRACT

Bone formation and remodeling around implanted materials are influenced by the load-bearing conditions. In this study, three types of material were implanted into dog femoral condyles and bone formation and remodeling were observed for 24 weeks thereafter. Even thickening of lamellar bone was observed around bead-coated alumina implants, whereas thick fibrous tissue surrounded by corticalized bone formed around those made of smooth alumina. With an implant made of an artificial osteo-chondral composite material, abundant bone ingrowth into the titanium fibers was observed 8 weeks after the operation and this ingrowth resulted in firm attachment of this composite material to the host bone site. The tibial joint surface against the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-hydrogel articular surface of this implant remained intact, which suggests this artificial osteochondral composite material is a very promising joint prosthetic material.