Effect of stress on tissue ingrowth into porous aluminum oxide

✍ Scribed by Hulbert, S. F. ;Matthews, J. R. ;Klawitter, J. J. ;Sauer, B. W. ;Leonard, R. B.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1974
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 759 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9304
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.820080310

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

A study of the tissue compatibility of aluminum oxide implants under different stress conditions in rabbits was performed over four‐ and eight‐week implantation periods. The specific objectives were to examine endosteal bone ingrowth into aluminum oxide coneshaped plugs in amputated tibiae, while additional pellet‐shaped implants in the tibiae and femora of rabbits with amputated and nonamputated limbs were studied to determine: (1) if the degree of loading placed on the amputated limb was sufficient to promote bone activity, (2) the degree of inertness and/or toxicity of the aluminum oxide implants, and (3) a possible cause of bone spurs.

The results of the radiographic, histologic and microradiographic analyses of the in vivo implants demonstrated that there was little mineralized bone ingrowth into the coneshaped aluminum oxide implants in the amputated tibiae. The study also showed that the aluminum oxide pellet implants in the tibiae and femora of the nonamputated limbs demonstrated excellent mineralized bone ingrowth into surface and internal pores. By comparing these results with the incomplete ingrowth into corresponding pellet implants in the tibiae and femora of amputated limbs, it was determined that a lack of weight bearing and damage to the musculature and vascularity following amputation were interfering with the normal bone activity and therefore bone ingrowth.

Angiographs and radiographs of the amputated tibiae demonstrated that bone spurs were present and that they originated at the site of the periosteal damage. Their cause was believed to be associated with an increase in the vascularity of the adjacent tissues.