A NEW COMPOSITE MADE OF POLYURETHANE AND GLASS-CERAMIC IN A LOADED IMPLANT MODEL - A BIOMECHANICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

The biocompatibility and osseous integration of a new composite materi al made of polyurethane and a calcium silicophosphate ceramic was inve stigated in a loaded implant model in sheep and compared to that of co mmercially pure titanium. Six months after implantation, interfacial s hear strength was higher between the titanium and bone than between th e composite and bone. After 2 years, however, the shear strength was s ignificantly higher in the composite group. Histologically, both impla nts were surrounded by bone and fibrous tissue and there were no signs of inflammation. Direct contact of bone on the composite surface incr eased significantly with time, whereas there was no time-dependent inc rease of bone contact on titanium. It can be concluded that the biocom patibility and osseous integration of the composite was very good in t he loaded implant model used. It is therefore suggested that the new c omposite is a promising biomaterial for orthopaedic implants.