title: A histomorphometric and histologic analysis of the implant interface in five successful, autopsy-retrieved, noncemented porous-coated knee arthroplasties.
abstract: Five clinically successful, primary uncemented porous-coated anatomic knee implants were retrieved postmortem, 13-56 months after implantation, and were sectioned and evaluated histologically and histomorphometrically for bone ingrowth. The prosthesis-bone interface was divided into the following four zones: (1) the tissue prosthetic surface interface; (2) the beaded area; (3) the immediate beadless area; and (4) the marrow space. Although fibroosseous ingrowth was present in all cases, it varied quantitatively with each case and component. Average component bone ingrowth for the prosthesis interface (Zones 1 and 2) of patellae was 29%; tibias, 6%; and femora, 8%. In Zone 3, the percentage of bone apposed to the prosthesis for the patellae was 53%; tibias 36%; and femora, 32%. Zone 4, the marrow space, was not quantitated. The fibrous tissue filling nonbone-ingrown porous space in Zone 2 appeared "ligamentoid," connecting bone to beads within Zone 2 and between Zones 2 and 3. Zone 3 exhibited a bony plate formation parallel to the prostheses. No significant inflammation was noted. Overall there was more bone ingrowth into Zone 3 than Zones 1 and 2 with greater bone ingrowth found in the patellar components. The implant interface in clinically successful noncemented porous-coated prostheses of this design is characterized histologically by a noninflammatory fibroosseous ingrowth of varying degrees, and the fibrous component of this composite structure exhibits a highly organized pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Lutheran Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11220.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Vigorita
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Minkowitz
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Dichiara
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Higham
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001843:Bone Cements; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis; D008297:Male; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology*; D010329:Patella / Q000166:cytology; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013499:Surface Properties; D013977:Tibia / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements