The influence of crystallinity of the hydroxyapatite coating on the fixation of implants - Mechanical and histomorphometric results

We inserted two hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated implants with crystallinities of either 50% (HA-50%) or 75% (HA-75%) bilaterally into the medial femoral co ndyles of the knees of 16 dogs. The implants were allocated to two groups w ith implantation periods of 16 and 32 weeks, They were weight-bearing and s ubjected to controlled micromovement of 250 mu m during each gait cycle. Af ter 16 weeks, mechanical fixation of the HA-50% implants was increased thre efold as compared with the HA-75% implants. After 32 weeks there was no dif ference between HA-50% and HA-75%. Fixation of HA-75% increased from 16 to 32 weeks whereas that of HA-50% was unchanged. HA-50% implants had 100% mor e bone ingrowth than HA-75% implants after 16 weeks. More HA coating was re moved on HA-50% implants compared with HA-75% implants after both 16 and 32 weeks. No further loss of the HA coating was shown from 16 to 32 weeks, Our study suggests that the crystallinity of the HA coating is an important factor in its bioactivity and resorption during weight-bearing conditions. Our findings suggest two phases of coating resorption, an initial rapid lo ss, followed by a slow loss. Resorbed HA coating was partly replaced by bon e ingrowth, suggesting that implant fixation will be durable.