Radiographic and morphologic studies of load-bearing porous-surfaced structured implants
Pilliar, R.M.; Cameron, H.U.; Welsh, R.P.; Binnington, A.G.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 156: 249-257
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-921X PMID: 7226660 Document Number: 178414
Load-bearing porous-surfaced implants in dogs which failed were not incorporated by bone ingrowth. The implants were incorporated only by fibrous tissue ingrowth. Collagen fiber orientation within this fibrous tissue and Sharpey's fiber-like features at the interface between the fibrous tissue and a surrounding layer of dense bone suggest the adequacy of the fibrous tissue attachment for support of a loaded implant. The surrounding dense bone layer could be distinguished radiographically within three months of the operation. This radiopaque line is similar to that observed around some porous surfaced hip implants in humans. Observations of animal mobility up to six months postoperatively suggest that fibrous connective tissue growth into porous implants can provide adequate mechanical support for weight-bearing dogs.