Funded by:
European Union (CRAFT); Grant Number: BRE2.CT94.1533
Spanish Government (CICYT); Grant Number: MAT93-0271
Keywords
hydroxylapatite • thin coating • pulsed laser deposition •
in-vivo test • osteoconduction
Abstract
A comparative study of the biological stability and the osteoconductivity
of hydroxylapatite (HA) coatings produced by pulsed laser deposition (PLD)
and plasma spraying (PS) was conducted. Three different implant groups were
used: grit-blasted titanium rods coated with HA-PLD (2-
m-thick),
grit-blasted titanium rods coated with HA-PS (50-m-thick),
and uncoated. Implantation took place into the proximal tibia of 12 mature
New Zealand White rabbits for 24 weeks. Samples were evaluated using descriptive
histology and histomorphometry. While HA-PS implants showed considerable instability
and reduction in thickness after 24 weeks, but no statistical difference to
the titanium group, the HA-PLD group showed a significant higher amount of
bone apposition (Scheffé test, p < 0.05) than the other two groups,
without signs of degradation or dissolution. Remarkably, after 6 months, the
almost intact thin pulsed laser deposited coating could be observed by electron
microscopy in extended areas.
