Vascularization of tricalcium phosphate, an artificial bone substitute: preliminary observations

Tricalcium phosphate (TCP), a biodegradable artificial bone substitute, was used to study the following questions: i) can TCP be vascularized; ii) do ectopically placed implants have osteoinductive capacity; and iii) does vascularization affect implant resorption? Implants were placed in dogs in several areas: i) subcutaneous controls; ii) wrapped with latissimus dorsi muscle; iii) wrapped in omentum; iv) saphenous and thoracodorsal av pedicles threaded through implant. Prior to harvest, animals were given tetracycline and implants were harvested at 3, 6, and 9 weeks. Microfil was injected prior to sacrifice and specimens were xeroradiographed. Histology and computerized axial tomography were obtained. From this study, we conclude that 1) TCP can be vascularized; 2) the most effective method of vascularization was by an AV pedicle threaded through the implant; 3) vascularized implants did not have osteoinductive properties per se, and 4) in the time observed no difference in implant resorption was demonstrated between the test groups.