Bone ingrowth into weight-bearing porous fiber titanium implants. Mechanical and biochemical correlations

Bone ingrowth into weight-bearing porous fiber Ti-6Al-4V implants in rat tibias was assessed for the amount, composition, and mineralization rate 3, 12, and 26 weeks after implantation. The data were compared with the ipsi- and contralateral metaphyseal controls and related to the ultimate bending stresses of the distal bone/implant interfaces. From the 3rd to the 12th week there was rapid bone ingrowth and also marked decline in mineralization rate of the ingrowing bone. After 12 weeks the implants were macroscopically pervaded by bone. The ultimate bending stresses increased from the 3rd to the 12th week and reached 45% of that of controls after 26 weeks. There was a linear proportionality between the amount of bone ingrowth and interfacial strength but a curvilinear relationship between bone maturity in terms of calcium/hydroxyproline and calcium/phosphorous ratios and interfacial strength. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the interfacial strength depends on the amount and the maturity of the ingrown bone. Compared with the calcium/hydroxyproline ratio, the calcium/phosphorous ratio was an unreliable predictor of interfacial strength.