title: Skin and bone integrated prosthetic pylon: a pilot animal study.
abstract: Direct skeletal attachment of limb prostheses is a viable alternative to traditional techniques that are based on a socket-residuum interface. Direct skeletal attachment may be a better or even the only method for patients with a very short residuum and high soft-tissue volume. The problem of integrating the prosthetic pylon with residual skin during direct skeletal attachment of a limb prosthesis has not been solved, and the use of a completely porous prosthetic pylon has not been the subject of focused, systematic research. In this in vivo study, we investigated cell (osteocyte, fibroblast, and keratinocyte) adhesion and penetration into the pores of a titanium pylon implanted in Wistar rats. The porous titanium pylon was implanted in the bone of the thigh residua of four rats. Electronic scanning and morphological analysis demonstrated integration of the pylon with the surrounding skin. These findings support the possibility of developing a natural barrier against the infection associated with direct skeletal attachment of limb prostheses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. mpitkin@tufts-nemc.org
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pitkin
authors.forename: Grigory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raykhtsaum
authors.forename: Oleg V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Galibin
authors.forename: Mikhail V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Protasov
authors.forename: Julie V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Chihovskaya
authors.forename: Irina G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Belyaeva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D016348:Osseointegration; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena