title: Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite facilitates bone apposition to polymethylmethacrylate: histological investigation using a sheep model.
abstract: Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is the most commonly used bone void filler for vertebral augmentation in osteoporotic fracture. It provides mechanical stability and immediate pain relief; however, PMMA is not osteointegrated and is separated from the surrounding bone tissue by a thin fibrous layer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) on osteointegration of PMMA in a sheep model. A composite material, consisting of PMMA and nanocrystalline HA (70:30, v/v), was implanted in one distal femur, with pure PMMA in the other femur as a control. Three and 6 months after implantation, the distal femora were histologically investigated. All composite implants exhibited a tight junction to the surrounding bone tissue, with minimal bone ingrowth into the outer surface of the implant. In comparison, with use of the control implants, we observed an overall bone resorption around pure PMMA, with fibrous connective tissue encapsulating the implant. These results suggest that nanocrystalline HA enables osteointegration of PMMA in bone tissue, which might alter the biomechanical characteristics of the osteoporotic vertebral body after augmentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany. m.arabmotlagh@t-online.de
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arabmotlagh
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dingeldein
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rauschmann
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schnettler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005269:Femur / Q000473:pathology*; D008422:Materials Testing; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016348:Osseointegration; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D034561:Sheep, Domestic
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D017886:Durapatite