Influence of Porosities of 3D Printed Titanium Implants on the Tensile Properties in a Rat Tendon Repair Model

There is a desire in orthopaedics to have soft tissue, particularly tendon, grow into metallic implants. With the introduction of three-dimensional (3D) printed porous metal implants, we hypothesized that tendons could directly attach to the implants. However, the effects of the porous metal structure on tissue growth and penetration into the pores are unknown. Using a rat model, we investigated the effect of pore size on tendon repair fixation using 3D printed titanium implants.

There were three experimental groups of eight Sprague Dawley rats (n = 24) plus control (n = 3). Implants had defined pore sizes of 400µm (n = 8), 700µm (n = 8), and 1000µm (n = 8). A defect was created in the Achilles tendon and the implant positioned between cut ends and secured with suture. Specimens were harvested at twelve weeks. Half the specimens underwent mechanical testing to assess tensile load to failure. The remaining specimens were fixed and processed for hard tissue histological analysis.

The average load to failure was 72.6N for controls (SD 10.04), 29.95N for 400µm (SD 17.95), 55.08N for 700µm (SD 13.47), and 63.08N for 1000µm (SD 1.87). The load to failure was generally better in the larger pore sizes. The 700µm and 1000µm specimens performed similarly, while the 400µm showed significant differences vs control (p = 0.039), vs 1000µm (p = 0.010), and approached significance vs 700µm (p = 0.066). There was increasing ingrowth as pore size increased. Histology showed fibrous tendon tissue within and around the implants, with collagen fibers organized in bundles.

Tendon repair utilizing implants with 700µm and 1000µm pores exhibited similar load to failure as controls. Using a defined pore structure at the attachment points of tendons to implants may allow predictable tendon ingrowth onto/into an implant at the time of revision arthroplasty.