Vascularization of tricalcium phosphate, an artificial bone substitute: preliminary observations.
Tricalcium phosphate (TCP), a biodegradable artificial bone substitute, was used to study the following questions: i) can TCP be vascularized; ii) do ectopically placed implants have osteoinductive capacity; and iii) does vascularization affect implant resorption? Implants were placed in dogs in several areas: i) subcutaneous controls; ii) wrapped with latissimus dorsi muscle; iii) wrapped in omentum; iv) saphenous and thoracodorsal av pedicles threaded through implant. Prior to harvest, animals were given tetracycline and implants were harvested at 3, 6, and 9 weeks. Microfil was injected prior to sacrifice and specimens were xeroradiographed. Histology and computerized axial tomography were obtained. From this study, we conclude that 1) TCP can be vascularized; 2) the most effective method of vascularization was by an AV pedicle threaded through the implant; 3) vascularized implants did not have osteoinductive properties per se, and 4) in the time observed no difference in implant resorption was demonstrated between the test groups.
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001862:Bone Resorption; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000098:blood supply*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply; D009852:Omentum / Q000098:blood supply; D010012:Osteogenesis; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012501:Saphenous Vein; D013524:Surgical Flaps
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C485828:alpha-tricalcium phosphate; C485830:tetracalcium phosphate; C485838:calcium phosphate, monobasic, anhydrous; C020243:calcium phosphate; C485829:calcium phosphate, dibasic, anhydrous