L. Sanzen et L. Linder, INFECTION ADJACENT TO TITANIUM AND BONE-CEMENT IMPLANTS - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN RABBITS, Biomaterials, 16(16), 1995, pp. 1273-1277
A pure titanium cylinder or a piece of bone cement was implanted in ea
ch upper tibial metaphysis of 20 rabbits. After 4 months radiograms we
re taken and 10(4), 10(6), or 10(8) Staphylococcus aureus were injecte
d into each leg through central holes in the implants in three groups
of animals. Four weeks later new radiograms, bacteriological and histo
logical biopsies were obtained. Three animals died before the end of t
he experiment. In animals which received 10(6) or 10(8) S. aureus radi
ographic signs of infection were found in 11/22 legs with both titaniu
m and bone cement implants. No radiolucent zones developed around the
implants. Bacteriological cultures from bone close to the implants wer
e negative in all legs with titanium implants and positive in four leg
s with cement implants. Seven cultures were negative in spite of radio
graphic changes. It is concluded that after a proper time for wound he
aling the bone around unloaded implants of both titanium and bone ceme
nt is fairly resistant to infection. in some cases, healing of an infe
ction in the surrounding bone seems possible.