Osseointegration of surface-blasted implants made of titanium alloy and cobalt-chromium alloy in a rabbit intramedullary model

The purpose of this study was to compare the osseointegration of surface-blasted Ti6Al4V and CoCr implants in vivo. Ti6Al4V and CoCr rods blasted with 710 mu m Al2O3 particles were bilaterally press-fit into the medullary space of distal femora of 24 rabbits. Evaluation was made radiographically, histologically, histomorphometrically (3, 6, and 12 weeks after implantation), and mechanically (12 weeks). Both Ti6Al4V and CoCr implants demonstrated good biocompatibility radiographically and histologically. Toluidine blue-stained sections revealed an osteoconductive effect of the blasted surface, and fluorochrome labeling analysis showed active bone formation at the bone-implant interface at as late as 12 weeks for both specimens. CoCr showed significantly lower interfacial shear strength than Ti6Al4V although the bone contact area with the implant surface was comparable and no intervening soft tissue at the bone-implant interface could be seen for either implant by scanning electron microscopy backscatter analysis. Unmineralized tissue (cartilage and osteoid) was observed more frequently on the CoCr surface than on the TiGAl4V surface. These data show less osseointegration of CoCr implants with this blasted surface for this short period, possibly due to a slight difference in surface roughness and some negative effects of CoCr on bone attachment. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.