Quantitative comparison of the histological effects of particulate polymethylmethacrylate versus polyethylene in the rabbit tibia

✍ Scribed by S. B. Goodman; V. L. Fornasier; J. Keil

• Book ID: 104755177
• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 497 KB
• Volume: 110
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1434-3916
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00395792

✦ Synopsis

Fourteen mature female New Zealand White rabbits underwent implantation of Simplex polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) powder or particulate (average 67 grn) ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) through a drill hole in the proximal right tibia. The left tibia functioned as a prepared but nonimplanted control. Animals were killed after 16 weeks. Histological examination of the bone-implant interface in the particulate PMMA group disclosed a florid foreign-body reaction with the presence of giant cells and histiocytes. The particulate UHMWPE group demonstrated positively birefringent UHMWPE fragments, rimmed by foreign-body giant cells and histiocytes, embedded in a loose connective tissue stroma. UHMWPE interfaces were thicker and contained more histiocytes and fibrocytes; PMMA interfaces contained more marrow cells and lymphocytes. This study underscores the importance of biomaterial debris in the process of aseptic loosening of cemented joint arthroplasties.