Torque test measurement in segmental bone defects using porous calcium phosphate cement implants

This study was performed to assess the bone healing supporting characteristics of porous calcium phosphate (Ca-P) cement when implanted in a rabbit segmental defect model as well as to determine the reliability of torque testing as a method to verify bone healing. The middiaphyseal radius was chosen as the area to create bilaterally increasing defect sizes (5, 10, and 15 mm), which were either filled with porous Ca-P cement or left open as a control. After 12 weeks of implantation, torque test measurements as well as histological and radiographic evaluation were performed. In two of the open 15 mm control defects, bone bridging was visible at the radiographic and histological evaluation. Bone was observed to be present in all porous Ca-P cement implants (5, 10, and 15 mm defects) after 12 weeks. No significant differences in torque measurements were observed between the 5 and 10 mm filled and open control defects using a t-test. In addition, the mechanical strength of all operated specimens was similar compared with nonoperated bone samples. The torsion data for the 15 mm open defect appeared to be lower compared with the filled 15 mm defect, but no significant difference could be proven. Within the limitation of the study design, porous Ca-P cement implants demonstrated osteoconductive properties and confirmed to be a suitable scaffold material in a weight-bearing situation. Further, the used torque testing method was found to be unreliable for testing the mechanical properties of the healed bone defect.