A histomorphometric and removal torque analysis of c.p. titanium implants inserted in reamed bone beds with and without acrylic cement

The marrow cavity was reamed in both tibias of six rabbits. In one of the tibias curing bone cement was inserted. Two titanium implants were inserted in the proximal metaphysis of each tibia. The removal torque was recorded after 7, 14, 20, 27, 34 and 42 weeks. After each torque test the implants were rotated back until an insertion torque of 20 N cm was arrived at. The subsequent removal torque increased for each measurement in the two groups and levelled off in the range 60–80 N cm after 20 weeks in the reamed tibia and in the range 40–50 N cm after 34 weeks in the bone cement tibia. Histomorphometry at 50 weeks after cement insertion revealed a significantly higher percentage of direct bone-to-implant contact for the implants in the non-cemented side, 83.6% versus 71.9% for the cemented tibia. There was also a higher percentage of bone in the summed area inside the thread and in an image mirror area outside the thread in the non-cemented tibia, compared to the cemented side, 93.6 and 89.6% respectively.     

Does sodium fluoride in bone cement affect implant fixation Part II: Evaluation of the effect of sodium fluoride additions to acrylic bone cement and the fixation of titanium implants in ovariectomized rabbits

Bone integration of threaded implants made of cured polymethylmethacrylate containing sodium fluoride or commercially pure (c.p.) titanium were studied in normal and estrogen deficient New Zealand white rabbits. Nine had been ovariectomized through laparoscopy and nine served as controls. Four weeks after the ovariectomy two threaded implants made of cured bone cement with or without sodium fluoride addition were inserted in each tibia. One threaded commercially pure titanium implant was inserted in each patello–femoral joint flush to the cartilage. Six weeks after implant insertion measurement of the peak removal torque necessary to loosen the implants and light microscopical histomorphometrical investigations of tissue integration were performed. In the ovariectomized rabbits addition of sodium fluoride to the cement resulted in increased area of bone in the threads (p=0.04), but no corresponding effect could be noted in the controls. The removal torque was lower in the ovariectomized rabbits compared to the non-ovariectomized when comparing implant with sodium fluoride addition (p=0.02). The bone tissue response and the removal torque of the titanium implants were not influenced by ovariectomy in these rabbits. ©2002 Kluwer Academic Publisher     

Quantitative bone tissue response to commercially pure titanium implants

Commercially pure titanium implants were inserted in rabbit tibia for 3, 6 and 12 weeks. Each rabbit had two implants inserted, one for removal torque measurements and the other for histomorphometrical analysis. Light microscopic observations revealed that there was a continuing bone remodelling, with new bone formation in the periosteal region after 3 and 6 weeks, which diminished with time, i.e. up to 12 weeks of follow-up. A higher removal torque was observed with increasing time of implant insertion. The removal torque values for the 12 week samples were converted to three different shear forces depending on three different theoretically calculated implant to bone attachment levels. The mean shear forces related to the entire length of the implant surface was 0.6 N mm^-2. If considering the length of the implant inside the cortical bone only, the mean shear force was 1.9 N mm^-2, and if the bone-metal contact length as related to an estimate of the bone-implant contact a mean shear force of 14.8 N mm^-2 was calculated. Histomorphometrical measurements revealed more bone-metal contact as well as a larger bone area in the threads with increasing time of insertion. Statistically significant differences were observed between all measurements of the 3 and 6 week samples and between the 3 and 12 week samples. For the 6 and 12 week sections a statistically eignificant difference could be demonstrated only when comparing bone areas in the three best consecutive threads located in the cortical region.     

Does sodium fluoride in bone cement affect implant fixation? Part I: Bone tissue response, implant fixation and histology in nine rabbits

The addition of sodium fluoride to poly (methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement may theoretically improve the fixation of joint replacement. This hypothesis was tested in an animal model using nine mature healthy lop-eared rabbits. A femoral prosthesis was inserted in both knees to resurface the patellofemoral articulation. The same acrylic cement, with and without sodium fluoride, was randomised between the two sides for prosthetic fixation. Two screw shaped implants machined from cured rods of either cement were also inserted bilaterally into the proximal tibia. Qualitative and quantitative histomorphometry of the bone tissue response surrounding the cement in the femur and the intact tibial implants revealed similar results regardless of sodium fluoride addition. Six weeks after surgery removal, torque did not significantly differ between the two sides. Our findings indicate that addition of sodium fluoride to PMMA has little effect on implant stability and bone remodeling in rabbits in the short-term.     

Tissue response to hafnium

The aim of the present experimental study was to evaluate the tissue response to hafnium (Hf) a reactive metal closely related to titanium (Ti) and zirconium (Zr). Hf has not been previously evaluated as implant material in a biologic environment. In a first experiment, 21 machined Hf non-threaded implants (test) and 21 similar Ti implants (control) were inserted in the abdominal wall of 21 rats. Animals were sacrificed after 8 days (6 rats), 6 (7 rats) and 12 weeks (8 rats). In a second experiment, 18 rabbits received 18 Hf and 18 Ti threaded implants in their tibiae, one implant in each tibia. The rabbits were sacrificed after 6, 12 and 24 weeks (6 animals/time interval). The bulk metal of the abdominal wall implants, embedded together with the surrounding tissue, was electrolytically dissolved and semithin (1 m) sections of the intact tissue–implant interface were evaluated by light microscopy (morphometry). Bone-implant contact and bone area within threads were evaluated in ground sections. In soft tissues, a fluid space containing predominantly monocytes/macrophages surrounded the abdominal implants at 8 days. At 6 and 12 weeks, a fibrous capsule, consisting of layers of macrophages and fibroblasts, surrounded the implants. Macrophages, including multinuclear giant cells, always formed the innermost layer in contact with the implant surface. No quantitative or qualitative difference in the tissue organization was detected between Ti and Hf implants. In rabbits, 6 weeks after insertion, the proximal two threads located within the cortical bone were filled with bone in contact with Hf and Ti. The distal threads contained bone marrow. After 12 and 24 weeks, mature bone was present in the proximal 3–4 implant threads. No statistically significant difference was found between Hf and Ti implants at any time periods. It is concluded that Hf is an interesting metal for biomedical applications in bone and soft tissue. © 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers     

Testing bone substitutes in a small animal model of revision arthroplasty

This study evaluated a modification of the rat-pin model to enable testing of bone substitute materials. The model was characterized using the ceramic, -tricalcium phosphate (TCP) as a filler. A 1 mm wide, 3.6 mm deep defect was created around a stainless steel (SS) implant in the proximal tibia of a rat. This defect was filled with a ceramic powder. Large particles (90–312m) of TCP were mixed with Gelfoam® to form a paste which was then molded around the proximal end of either an uncoated SS pin or a pin coated with hydroxyapatite (HA). The pin with its ceramic collar was then implanted into the proximal tibia of 16 male Sprague Dawley rats. Two animals with coated implants and two with uncoated implants were sacrificed at 3, 6, 14 and 26 weeks. Longitudinal sections of each tibia were stained with toluidine blue and labeled for tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). There was initial fibrous tissue interposition around the implants which was completely remodeled around the HA coated pins but which persisted in apposition to the SS pins. The remodeling process peaked at 3 weeks around the HA coated pins and at 6 weeks around the uncoated implants. There was little remodeling around either implant by 26 weeks. There was considerable residual TCP present which was well tolerated as the particles were often encased in bone. The model has several characteristics of revision arthroplasty and the results demonstrate the suitability of this model for testing bone substitutes.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Quantitative comparison of screw-shaped commercially pure titanium and zirconium implants in rabbit tibia

Screw-shaped implants with an outer diameter of 3.7 mm and a total length of 8 mm were made from rods of commercially pure titanium (c.p. Ti) and commercially pure zirconium (c.p. Zr). Prior to insertion in rabbit tibia for 12 weeks, the surface roughness of two randomly chosen c.p. Ti and two c.p. Zr machined implants of the batch were numerically and visually described with a TopScan 3-D system. Irrespective of implant material, they demonstrated rather similar surface roughnesses, for example, the R _a and R _q values (that describe the average deviation from the mean line) were 0.79 and 1.18 for c.p. Ti versus 0.56 and 0.86 for c.p. Zr. Each rabbit had four implants inserted; two made of c.p. Ti in one leg and two made of c.p. Zr in the other. The bone tissue reactions to the materials were qualitatively and quantitatively examined. Removal torque tests were performed on the distal implants and histomorphometrical evaluations of the proximal ones. No qualitative or quantitative bone differences were observed. Removal torque measurements demonstrated a mean of 26.2 N cm±9.6 for c.p. Ti versus a mean of 25.9 N cm±7.1 for the c.p.Zr implants. Histomorphometrical comparisons of the bone-to-metal contact revealed a mean of 29 ±10.2% for c.p. Ti and a mean of 19±5.5% for the c.p. Zr samples. The mean bone area in the threads around the c.p. Ti samples was 49±16.6% compared to 43±7.9% for the c.p. Zr group. Commercially pure titanium and zirconium implants seemed to be well accepted by the bone bed after 12 weeks of insertion in rabbit bone.     

Bioactive glass granules and polytetrafluoroethylene membrane in the repair of bone defects adjacent to titanium and bioactive glass implants

An experimental animal model was used to investigate the effect of bioactive glass (BG) granules and nonresorbable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane on the repair of cortical bone defects adjacent to titanium and BG implants. Thirty-two Astra® (diameter 3.5 mm) dental implants were inserted bicortically and 42 conical BG implants (diameter 2.5–3.0 mm) monocortically, into fitted holes of rabbit tibia. Before implantation, a standardized bone defect was created by drilling an extra hole (diameter 3.0 mm) adjacent to each implant site. Twenty-eight defects were filled with BG granules (diameter 630–800 m) (BG group) and 28 defects were left empty but covered with PTFE membrane (PTFE group). No material was used in 18 control defects (control group). Morphometrical evaluation with a digital image analysis system was used to measure bone repair as percentages of the defect area on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy pictures. Bone–implant contact was measured as percentages of the thickness of the cortical bone. At 6 and 12 wk, bone repair in defects in connection with titanium implants was 23.2% and 36.6% in the BG group, 23.2% and 32.4% in the PTFE group, and 47.2% and 46.2% in control defects. Corresponding figures for BG implants were 33.2% and 40.1% in the BG group, 16.6% and 33.5% in the PTFE group, and 25.7% and 54.9% in control defects, BG granules and new bone together filled 82.7% and 68.5% of the defect area adjacent to titanium implants, and 75.9% and 74.4% of the defect adjacent to BG implants at 6 and 12 wk, respectively. Better bone–implant contact was achieved at the defect side with BG than titanium implants (77.0% versus 45.0% at 12 wk). The results indicate that BG granules are useful in treatment of bone defects adjacent to dental implants. BG coating of the implant seems to improve osseointegration in the defect area.     

Titanium dental implants coated with Bonelike®: Clinical case report

The aim of the study was to evaluate the direct bone bonding and osteointegration of the commercial pure (cp Ti) implants coated with Bonelike® synthetic bone graft by plasma spraying. The Bonelike® coated implant was placed in the mandible of a 40-year-old patient and it was removed after a healing period of 3 months with a trephine of 6 mm diameter. The structure of the coating and new bone/implant interface of retrieved samples were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and histological analysis using light microscopy. In vivo microstructure observations of Bonelike® coated retrieved implants showed excellent bone remnants on its surface without any tissue and inflammatory signs observed. The reported Bonelike® coated (cp Ti) implants improved primary stability, which may increase the lifetime of the implant. Bonelike® coated dental implants proved to be highly bioactive with extensive new bone formation and strongly bonded to Bonelike® coating.     

The effects of implanted ionomeric and acrylic bone cements on peripheral nerve function

The effects of two experimental ionomeric and one commercial acrylic bone cement and set ionomeric microimplant bone substitute (lonogran®) on peripheral nerve conduction, 1 and 3 weeks after implantation, have been compared. In 44 experiments the rat saphenous nerve was exposed midway between the ankle and thigh and bone cement placed into a pocket created in the connective tissue adjacent to the nerve. In terminal experiments, 1 and 3 weeks later, stimulating electrodes were placed on the saphenous nerve at the ankle, and the amplitude and conduction velocity of the compound action potential (CAP) evoked was recorded through another pair of electrodes positioned on the nerve proximal to the implant, in the thigh. One week after placing an ionomeric bone cement (HVA or V-4), no neural activity could be recorded. Three weeks, after HVA implantation apparently normal CAPs were recorded indicating a recovery from a temporary nerve conduction block, but 3 weeks after V-4 implantation only small CAPs were recorded and these could be attributed to axonal regeneration. After implantation of acrylic bone cement, small CAPs were recorded after 1 week, and within 3 weeks nerve conduction appeared to have completely recovered. Three weeks after placing set ionomeric microimplant particles the amplitude and conduction velocity of the CAP was similar to the controls.     

Biological behavior of sol-gel coated dental implants

The biocompatibility of dental implants coated with titania/hydroxyapatite (HA) and titania/bioactive glass (BG) composites obtained via sol-gel process was investigated using an in vitro and in vivo model. A device for the in vitro testing of screw-shaped dental implants was developed, in order to well compare the two experimental models studying the behavior of human MG63 osteoblast-like cells seeded onto a particular geometry. The expression of some biochemical parameters of osteoblastic phenotype (alkaline phosphatase specific activity, collagen and osteocalcin production) and some indications on cells morphology obtained by scanning electron microscopy were evaluated. The in vitro and in vivo models were compared after implants insertion in rabbit tibia and femur. The removal torque and histomorphometric parameters (percentage of bone in contact with implant surface and the amount of bone inside the threaded area) were examined. A good agreement was found between the in vitro and in vivo models. These experiments showed better performances of HA and BG sol-gel coated dental implants with respect to uncoated titanium; in particular, it was found that in vitro the HA coating stimulates osteoblastic cells in producing higher level of ALP and collagen, whereas in vivo this surface modification resulted in a higher removal torque and a larger bone-implant contact area. This behavior could be ascribed to the morphology and the chemical composition of the implants with rough and bioactive surfaces.     

Biomechanical evaluation of cell-loaded and cell-free hydroxyapatite implants for the reconstruction of segmental bone defects

Porous hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffoldings are currently used in tissue engineering for bone reconstruction. When this osteoconductive biomaterial is combined with osteoprogenitor cells, it acquires osteoinductive features which accelerate and improve bone formation in vivo. The aim of our study was to assess the mechanical properties of HA–bone complexes undergoing indentation tests, and relate stiffness to composition and structure as examined by micro X-ray. To this purpose, 35-mm tibia diaphyseal resections were performed in sheep. Gaps were filled using porous HA cylinders. Implants were loaded with autologous bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC); cell-free cylinders were used as control. After 8 weeks, bone tissue was found within the internal macropores of cell-loaded HA carriers, and in control implants, bone formation was mostly limited to the outer surface. As assessed by indentation testing the stiffness values of bone–HA composites were halfway between those of HA scaffoldings and tibia bone. Cell-loaded implants were stiffer than cell-free ones. In a cell-loaded implant we also analyzed the variation of stiffness along the main axis of the tibia.     

Bone healing in porous implants: a histological and histometrical comparative study on sheep

Tissue integration in four types of porous implant materials (Interpore 200® or Corallin hydroxyapatite, hydroxyapatite blocks, hydroxyapatite granules and polymethylmethacrylate) was evaluated in vivo. Porous blocks measuring 20 mm × 10 mm × 8 mm were implanted in mandibles and iliac crests of sheep. Bone healing in porous blocks was studied at 2 and 6 months after implantation. The behavior of the material itself was also analyzed. Histological and histomorphometrical analysis revealed bone healing depending upon healing time and material. On the basis of analysis of variance, differences in amounts of bone ingrowth at 2 and 6 months were statistically significant (p = 0.0039 in mandible; p = 0.0351 in iliac crest). The longer the time span, the more mineralized tissues were observed in the specimen. Our data confirmed that hydroxyapatite has osteoconductive capacities. Porous PMMA was found to be biocompatible, but it showed less bonegrowth within the pores. Interpore 200®, which had the highest surface to volume ratio was found to display the highest level of osseointegration and biodegradation. © 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers     

Osseointegration evaluation of laser-deposited titanium dioxide nanoparticles on commercially pure titanium dental implants

The nanotechnology field plays an important role in the improvement of dental implant surfaces. However, the different techniques used to coat these implants with nanostructured materials can differently affect cells, biomolecules and even ions at the nano scale level. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the structural, biomechanical and histological characterization of nano titania films produced by either modified laser or dip coating techniques on commercially pure titanium implant fixtures. Grade II commercially pure titanium rectangular samples measuring 35?×?12?×?0.25?mm length, width and thickness, respectively were coated with titania films using a modified laser deposition technique as the experimental group, while the control group was dip-coated with titania film. The crystallinity, surface roughness, histological feature, microstructures and removal torque values were investigated and compared between the groups. Compared with dip coating technique, the modified laser technique provided a higher quality thin coating film, with improved surface roughness values. For in vivo examinations, forty coated screw-designed dental implants were inserted into the tibia of 20 white New Zealand rabbits’ bone. Biomechanical and histological evaluations were performed after 2 and 4 weeks of implantation. The histological findings showed a variation in the bone response around coated implants done with different coating techniques and different healing intervals. Modified laser-coated samples revealed a significant improvement in structure, surface roughness values, bone integration and bond strength at the bone-implant interface than dip-coated samples. Thus, this technique can be an alternative for coating titanium dental implants.     

A histological study on polyactive® for the prevention of peridural adhesions after spinal surgery: an experimental study in dogs with a 3 months follow-up

In the present study the potential of Polyactive^® bilayer sheets in the prevention of scar tissue formation after spinal surgery was investigated. Eight adult beagle dogs underwent 3 laminectomies at three levels (L2, L4 and L6). According to a randomized implantation schedule a Polyactive^® sheet or autogenous fat graft was placed in the defect. The third site served as a control without implant. After 4 or 12 weeks (4 dogs per period) the dogs were sacrificed and histological sections were prepared. The Polyactive^® treated defects showed partial closure by newly formed bone. The Polyactive^® was encapsuled by a thin fibrous tissue layer. Ventral to the defect, dense fibrous tissue was present which was separated from the dura by the Polyactive^® sheet in all cases. In some cases fibrous tissue was present between the implant capsule and the dura. In the fat graft group there were no signs of closure of the defect but most sites showed fibrous tissue at the edges of the graft, which was in 4 sites continous with the dura mater. Fibrosis and degeneration of the fat grafts were seen. All control defects showed partial closure by newly formed bone, and ventral to the defect extensive fibrous tissue, which was in 50% continous with the dura mater. Other sections showed loose connective tissue in contact with the dura mater. It is concluded that Polyactive^® has a potential as a mechanical barrier in the prevention of adhesions between the dorsal spinal muscles and the dura mater.     

Injectable percutaneous bone biomaterials: an experimental study in a rabbit model

New percutaneous filling techniques are beginning to be used in bone tumour pathology, because they are less aggressive than surgery. The purpose of this study was to test percutaneous injectable bone biomaterials with a reproducible model. A closed cancellous bone defect was created in the distal femoral extremities of 34 rabbits. Filling was done by a percutaneous injection made on the medial side, after the defect had been hollowed by a lateral approach. Three situations were tested: unfilled, filled with orthopaedic cement, filled with a soft collagen-hydroxyapatite material. Three time intervals (2,4 and 8 weeks) were tested for the three situations. For the mixed hydroxyapatite-collagen material, each component was tested separately: the injectable collagen, and the hydroxyapatite powder. The quality of the defect was assessed by the variations of the defect area on sagittal sections. Bone formation in the defect was quantified for each group and time interval. A bone defect of reproducible size was obtained. Evolution of bone formation was different in each group. An unfilled defect was never completely filled by bone and the defect bone formation rate stayed between 9.9% and 15.1% without any statistical difference between the time intervals. The percutaneous injection of orthopaedic cement, which was progressive, was less complete than an opened surgical filling and explained a frequent low peripheral bone formation. A lower bone formation rate was observed in all the filled groups (orthopaedic cement, hydroxyapatite-collagen, hydroxyapatite and collagen) than in the control unfilled group. This study showed the use of bone biomaterials by an injectable percutaneous method, and a model to evaluate these materials is proposed.     

Curing characteristics of acrylic bone cement

Commercial acrylic bone cements are supplied as two components, a polymer powder and a liquid monomer. Mixing of the two components is followed by a progressive polymerization of the liquid monomer to yield a solid mass, a high level of heat being generated during this exothermic reaction. The exposure of bone to high temperatures has led to incidences of bone necrosis and tissue damage, ultimately resulting in failure of the prosthetic fixation. The aim of this study was to determine the thermal properties of two acrylic bone cements as they progress through their polymerization cycles. It was also felt that there was a need to quantify the variations in the curing characteristics as a function of preparing bone cement by different techniques, hand mixing and vacuum mixing. A number of parameters were calculated using the data gathered from the investigation: peak temperature, cure temperature, cure time, and the cumulative thermal necrosis damage index. The results show the temperature profile recorded during polymerization was lowest when the cement was prepared using the Howmedica Mix-Kit I® system: 36 °C for Palacos R® and 41 °C for CMW³® respectively. When the acrylic cements were prepared in any vacuum mixing system there was evidence of an increase in the cure temperature. The main factor that contributed to this rise in temperature was an imbalance in the polymer powder : liquid monomer ratio, there was a high incidence of unmixed powder visible in the mixing barrel of some contemporary vacuum mixing devices. Observing the thermal characteristics of the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cements assessed, it was found that particular formulations of bone cements are suited to certain mixing methodologies. It is vital that a full investigation is conducted on a cement mixing/delivery system prior to its introduction into the orthopaedic market.     

Tissue responses to anti-washout apatite cement using chitosan when implanted in the rat tibia

The tissue response to anti-washout apatite cement using chitosan (aw-AC(chi)) was evaluated by implanting aw-AC(chi) into bone defects of rat tibiae using conventional apatite cement (c-AC) as a control material. During the experimental period up to 16 weeks, the only difference between aw-AC and c-AC was found at two weeks in the tissue response of soft tissue. At two weeks, c-AC showed a moderate inflammatory response; small particles of c-AC were scattered in the cutaneous tissue and many foreign body giant cells were collected around the scattered c-AC, whereas aw-AC showed only a slight inflammatory response and few foreign body giant cells. We found no difference between aw-AC(chi) and c-AC with respect to bone tissue response. Both AC were almost completely surrounded by mature bone at eight weeks. No promotion or reduction of osteoconductivity was observed by chitosan even though it is considered to promote bone formation.We concluded, therefore, that enhancement of bone formation cannot be expected by employing chitosan to obtain anti-washout properties, at least in the concentration used in this study, even though aw-AC(chi) is much more useful than c-AC. © 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers     

Guided bone regeneration using osteopatite® granules and polytetrafluoroethylene membranes

Granules of a modified hydroxyapatite, Osteopatite®, were implanted in the right posterior tibiae of adult rabbits. We studied the extent of bone regeneration in bone holes. In the right tibiae, that were filled with granules of this biomaterial covered with a polytetrafluoro-ethylene (PTFE) membrane using, as a control, uncovered granules. In the left tibia, an empty hole was covered with PTFE membrane and a second hole was left empty to be used as a control. A histomorphometric study was carried out using light microscopy, four and eight weeks after the surgery. The covered granules presented a higher percentage of bone contact than the uncovered ones, and it was also possible to observe a better bone tissue organization, mainly produced by the immobilization action of the PTFE membrane. Empty bone defects covered with PTFE membranes, two months after implantation, presented large areas of Haversian bone and direct bone contact to the PTFE membrane.     

X-ray diffraction of bone at the interface with hydroxyapatite-coated versus uncoated metal implants

The microstructural characteristics of the newly formed bone tissue at the interface with hydroxyapatite-coated and uncoated stainless steel pins used in an external fracture fixation system have been evaluated. The bone far from the interface was used as a control. Pins were transversally inserted into the diaphyses of sheep tibiae and were loaded in for six weeks. Three sheep received coated pins and two received uncoated pins. Crystallographic habit and mineralization of the implant-facing bone were evaluated. Moreover, lattice parameters of bone apatite were measured and hydroxyapatite (HA) coating degradation was investigated, by means of conventional and microbeam X-ray diffraction (XRD). In coated pins, six weeks after the implantation the newly formed bone tissue at the interface did not reach complete maturation, but the presence of the implant did not alter the apatite lattice structure; the lattice parameters did not show statistically significant variations with respect to those observed in the control bone. In uncoated pins, bone tissue rarely appeared totally mineralized and lattice parameters were significantly different with respect to those observed in the bone far from the implant. HA particles were observed spreading in the bone-facing coated pins; the XRD pattern of bone apatite surrounding HA particles was unmodified. It was concluded that HA coatings improved the bone remodelling process during pin fixation in comparison to uncoated pins and did not alter the crystallographic habit of apatite. © 1998 Chapman & Hall