Bone tissue response to dense hydroxylapatite disc implants in mongrel dogs: a light and electron microscopic study

Abstract

Ceramics have distinct advantages over many other materials for use as implantable prosthetic devices. As implant materials, they are virtually nonreactive, and unlike many metals they are corrosion resistant. When properly formulated and fabricated, their compressive and tensile strengths would be appropriate for use as prosthetic devices. A new process for preparing a dense polycrystalline hydroxylapatite (HA) ceramic called durapatite has been formulated. This material appears particularly attractive as a candidate for hard tissue implant because of its strength and because its chemical composition closely resembles that of vertebrate bone and tooth minerals.Durapatite in the form of dense plugs was surgically implanted into drilled holes in the femurs of four adult mongrel dogs. Two dogs were sacrificed two months postimplantation and two at approximately seven months.