Orderly oriented wire mesh: a novel porous coating

As an alternative to commercially available porous beads and fiber metal mesh, a new porous coating, orderly oriented wire mesh (OOWM), was developed. Rectangular plugs, 10 x 5 x 5 mm with porous-coated beads, and four different OOWM configurations were inserted into bilateral femoral condyles of adult beagles. Dogs were sacrificed immediately after implantation, and at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks postimplantation. Mechanical pullout strength of plugs revealed that porous beads are equivalent to the simplest OOWM at 12 weeks postimplantation. Of the four OOWMs tested, the 25 x 25 single layer was significantly more stable than others at 4 weeks postimplantation. These results indicate that in an in vivo unloaded model, OOWM is just as effective as the porous beads in achieving early bone ingrowth and stability.