Abstract
Aims: To develope a prosthesis with porous surface based on polymer technology of metacrylates, bioactive glass S53P4 and glassfiber reinforcement to treat segmental bone defects. Methods: A sylindrical prosthesis matching anatomically shape of the rabbits tibia was prepared from bioactive glass S53P4 (granule size 90–315 μm) and polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA). The polymerization was perfomed extracorporally thus reducing the amount of toxic monomers introduced into the body. Three groups of prosthesis were made: 1. Surface of the bulk grinded to expose glass granules at its surface 2. Surface prepared porotic, porediameter 50–300 μm and biomechanical properties increased by glass fiber reinforcement 3. Prosthesis made from PMMA serving as control group. A 12 mm segmental defect was sawed in the tibia and replaced with the prosthesis. Prosthesis was fixed with DCP-plate. Evaluation was made after 4, 8 and 20 weeks by plain radiographs, CT, histology, histometry and SEM. Results: Bone incorporation at the interface was evident in areas where good tissue contact was obtained. Porotic surface structure enhanced bone ingrowth. Histometry revealed 16–30% bone contact at the interface in groups 1 and 2. Conclusions: Study illustrates views on biotechnical innovations combining bioactive materials to be used for bone reconstruction. This composite material has potentials to be used as new prosthesis material and artificial bone substitute.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
