[Histologic and biomechanic evaluation of posterolateral arthrodesis using a biphasic ceramic of calcium phosphate as...

The effectiveness of a macroporous biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic was studied after laterovertebral arthrodesis in sheep. A ceramic with a TCP/HAP ratio of 35/65 was compared with autologous bone graft in an histomorphometric and biomechanical point of view. Quantitative analysis of the results indicated that the biphasic ceramic allows an arthrodesis after 12 months, although control graft is effective after six months. A large decrease of flexibility in all directions was obtained with the ceramic, similarly to autologous graft. No nonfusion case was observed. In conditions very close to the human surgery, a posterolateral fusion can be obtained using biphasic phosphate ceramic as bone substitute.