Shear and tensile strength of hydroxyapatite coating under loading conditions. An experimental study in dogs

The shear and tensile strength of a hydroxyapatite (HA) coating on a femoral component was studied after physiological loading conditions in 8 German Shepherds. A proximal macrostructure on the stem was used to protect this region from shear stresses. Another four implantations with uncoated components were used as controls. In vitro testing of the HA layer demonstrated excellent tensile strength and stability to surface deformation. The loaded implants were tested at 6, 12, and 24 weeks. At 6 weeks the HA-coated components could easily be removed by axial loading, whereas the HA layer remained undamaged on the metal. However, pull out tests of implants older than 12 weeks showed complete debonding of the HA layer from the non-macrostructured surface due to shear forces in all cases. Debonding of the HA layer was also observed with microradiography. The macrostructured surface prevented dislodging of the component from this area at pull out test by distributing shear forces. Unlike in uncoated implants, considerable amounts of bone remained attached onto the HA macrostructure when the surrounding femur was pulled out. Shear forces cause debonding of the HA layer, while tensile stress affects failure within the bone. Physiological loading partially produces gaps at the interface so direct transmission of tensile forces onto the bone is lost, and the coating-metal interface becomes the weak point in the system.