[Comparative study of bioactive calcium phosphate ceramics after implantation in spongy bone in dogs. Histologic,...

An experimental model of posterior spine arthrodesis in dogs was created using 3 types of calcium phosphate biomaterials already known for their applications as bone substitutes, namely: hydroxyapatite (HA), which is not readily resorbable; highly resorbable tricalcium phosphate (TCP); and a mixture of HA and TCP (BCP), the resorbability of which depends on the proportion of HA and TCP. The BCP implants had a macroporous structure, whilst the HA and TCP implants were used in dense form. The creation of macropores increases the surface exchange area, thus enabling the osseous colonization processes. By carefully removing the posterior articular facets it was possible to remove the articular surfaces and to fit into each appropriate location a block a few millimeters in diameter. The anatomopathological assessment was performed using histological methods, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersion microprobe analysis. Our results indicate that calcium phosphate ceramics may be used as bone substitutes for carrying out arthrodeses, provided (1) immediate immobilization using a spine containment technique is effected; (2) their chemical composition is sufficiently stable over time; (3) they are sufficiently bioactive so as to allow their colonization and replacement by bone.