Indentation testing of a bone defect filled with two different injectable bone substitutes

Injectable bone substitutes (IBS) based on calcium phosphate (CaP) and/or calcium sulphate (CaS) are used as fillers in bone defects to stimulate bone integration and allow mechanical loading. Two types of IBS, IBS-1 is CaP+20%CaS and IBS-2 is CaS+40% hydroxyapatite, were investigated. The materials were injected into holes in the femur and tibia in rabbits. After 10 weeks the femora were subjected to indentation testing and tibiae were prepared for histology evaluation. IBS-1 lead to an higher indentation load compared to control, that is no material inserted, while IBS-2 showed no significant difference between material and control. Histology showed that with IBS-1, the bone penetrated into and integrated with the material in the defect. With IBS-2, new bone grew into the outer 0.5-1.0 mm. The materials could be used for different indications, such as to support fracture healing or in contained cavities.