COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF TISSUE-REACTIONS TO CALCIUM-PHOSPHATE CERAMICS AMONG CANCELLOUS, CORTICAL, AND MEDULLAR BONE SITES IN RABBITS

In order to understand the influence of the implantation site on bone biomaterial evaluation, we implanted cylinders of HA and beta-TCP cera mics in the femoral diaphysis and condyle of rabbits. After 3, 8, 12, and 24 weeks of implantation, histological investigation and histomorp hometry were performed on undecalcified samples. Our results show that spontaneous bone healing in the empty cavities is significantly diffe rent (p < 0.05) between cortical (SBH > 80%) and cancellous bone sites (SBH < 31%) and that no new bone is formed in marrow tissue. For both porous ceramics, the highest osteogenesis was obtained in the cortica l site. Osteogenesis was intermediate in the cancellous site and weak in the medullar site. The material biodegradation was the strongest in the medullar site and higher in the cancellous site than in the corti cal site. Both activities were better in the beta-TCP than in the HA ( p > 0.05). The marrow tissue presents a foreign-body reaction more rel iable, sensitive, and durable than other bone tissues. Therefore, the cancellous bone site is a good site for evaluation of the biofunctiona lity of biomaterials because of the equilibrium of the osteogenesis an d the biodegradation activities, but marrow tissue seems to be better for testing material biocompatibility in vivo. (C) 1998 John Wiley & S ons, Inc.