| The effect of adding a thin sol-gel-formed calcium phosphate (Ca-P) coating over sintered porous-surfaced Ti-6Al-4V implants on the rate of bone ingrowth to achieve implant fixation has been investigated. Control implants (sintered Ti-6Al-4V surface zone alone) and sol-gel Ca-P-coated implants were placed distal femoral condyle of New-Zealand white rabbits and sacrificed at 6, 9, 12 and 16 days. Significantly greater mechanical pull-out force (N) and interfacial stiffness (N/mm) were found for the Ca-P-coated implants (p < 0.05) in the 6 and 9 day groups. Secondary electron image and backscattered scanning electron microscopy observations suggested greater bone interdigitation and contact with the Ca-P-coated porous surface region than with the control implant surface region at 6, 9, 12 and 16 days. The sol-gelformed Ca-P surface film significantly enhances the early rate of bone ingrowth into sintered porous-surfaced implants. |
