A LIGHT-MICROSCOPY, SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY, AND LASER SCANNING MICROSCOPY ANALYSIS OF RETRIEVED BLADE IMPLANTS AFTER 7 TO 20 YEARS OFCLINICAL FUNCTION - A REPORT OF 3 CASES

THE AIM OF THE PRESENT STUDY was to evaluate by means of light microsc opy, scanning electron microscopy, and laser scanning microscopy the t hin ground sections of blade implants retrieved after 7 to 20 years of clinical function. Microscopic examination revealed that most of the implant surface had an intimate contact with compact lamellar bone tis sue. Higher magnifications revealed the presence of a gap (1 to 5mu) i nterposed between bone and implant. Many osteocytes were near the impl ant surface and, in many instances, osteocyte canaliculi, running from the lacunae towards the implant surface, were seen. Structures simila r to bone reversal lines were observed at the edge of the bone side of the interface. The bone-titanium region is probably an area of dynami c biological activity.