HISTOMORPHOMETRY OF HYDROXYAPATITE-COATED AND UNCOATED POROUS TITANIUM BONE IMPLANTS

Two different groups of hydroxyapatite (HA) coated and uncoated porous titanium implants, 250-350 mu m and 500-700 mu m diameter beads, were press-fitted into femoral canine cancellous bone. After 12 wks, the d ogs were killed and histomorphometric backscattered electron microscop y studies were carried out. Comparing HA coated Versus uncoated implan ts in the 250-350 mu m bead diameter group, the percentage of bone (P = 0.01) and bone index (P = 0.01) were higher in the HA coated implant s. Comparing HA coated Versus uncoated implants in the 500-700 mu m be ad diameter group, bone ingrowth (P = 0.01) and bone depth penetration (P = 0.008) were higher in HA coated samples. It can be concluded tha t the HA coating was an effective method for improving bone formation and ingrowth in the porous implants.