Improvement of the bone-pin interface with hydroxyapatite coating: an in vivo long-term experimental study

The present study was designed to comparatively evaluate the bone-pin interface in a long-term unloaded experimental study in two groups of pins, uncoated and coated with hydroxyapatite. Forty pins made of stainless steel were used. Half of the pins were plasma-sprayed with hydroxyapatite, and the other half remained uncoated. Four adult sheep were selected. Each sheep tibia was implanted with five pins. Two sheep were euthanized 4 months after surgery and the remaining two 12 months after surgery. Extraction torque was higher in the hydroxyapatite-coated pins compared with the uncoated ones at both 4 (p < or = 0.0005) and 12 months (p < or = 0.0005) after implantation. The histological patterns observed in the sheep euthanized 4 and 12 months after implantation were very similar. An extensive bony coverage of the hydroxyapatite-coated pins without any coating resorption and delamination from the metallic substrate was observed. Fibrous tissue encapsulation was found in the uncoated pins. These results demonstrate that the hydroxyapatite coating significantly improved the bone-pin interface. A similar improvement of bone-pin interface rigidity in many clinical situations is likewise possible.