OSSEOINTEGRATION OF TITANIUM IMPLANTS IN THE TIBIA - ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY OF BIOPSIES FROM 4 PATIENTS

We studied the ultrastructure of bone tissue around implants of pure t itanium inserted into the tibia in 4 patients with arthrosis or rheuma toid arthritis. Three main appearances of the interface were noted. Fi rst, a close contact between titanium and calcified bone with living o steocytes inside the newly-formed bone was observed in all samples. Se condly, a close contact was also seen between the implant and osteoid, the newly formed collagenous matrix being either uncalcified or calci fying. Thirdly, a loose extracellular matrix with fibrillar and nonfib rillar materials was sometimes observed between bone mineral and impla nt. There was no inflammatory reaction at the interface. We concluded that the titanium implants were osseointegrated, but the calcification of the bone tissue was not complete even after 20 months. However, mi neralization of osteoid and living bone cells revealed the presence of an active tissue.