BLOOD-LOSS ENHANCES OSSEOUSINTEGRATION OF POROUS-COATED IMPLANTS IN THE RABBIT

Systemic osteosynthesis as a consequence of acute blood loss was inves tigated by assessment of osseousintegration of porous-coated implants in rabbits. All implants were examined 6 weeks after insertion. Increa sed bone ingrowth was noted in implants inserted at 0, 3 and 6 weeks a fter bleeding (107%, 110% and 250%, respectively; p < 0.05 to 0.001). Mechanical testing and assay of bone-derived serum alkaline phosphatas e confirmed the backscattering electron imaging analysis. In a second series of animals, implants evaluated 3 weeks after insertion but plac ed at the time of bleeding and 6 weeks after bleeding revealed no chan ge from the control nonbleed animals. This ''osseousintegration'' mode l suggests that a timed sequence of autologous blood donation by patie nts electing joint replacement may have beneficial effects not previou sly recognized.