Fixation of carbon fibre-reinforced carbon composite implanted into bone

The push-out test of three types of biomaterials: carbon fibre-reinforced carbon (CFRC), hydroxyapatite (HA), and surgical steel (SS) implanted into rabbits' femurs was carried out. Hydroxyapatite was used as a positive control (good fixation expected in bone) and surgical steel was a negative one (potentially no fixation in bone). Regeneration of bone in contact with all implants was found three months after implantation. The shear strength between CFRC implants and bone was lower than with the HA implants and higher than the shear strength between the surgical steel and bone. Compressive strength of CFRC implants removed after the observation period was significantly lower than the compressive strength of non-implanted samples. It is concluded that the mechanical bonding between the CFRC implants and host tissues exists 3 months after intrabone implantation and is accompanied by a decrease of the strength of implants.