K. Sugamoto, M. Hirao, N. Tamai, K. Oka, H. Yoshikawa, Y. Mori, T. Sasaki, Osaka University, Suita City Osaka, Japan
Porous coatings have been applied to the surface of prosthesis, but it cannot regulate the optimal micro-texture of metal surfaces. We recently developed a precisely controllable porous texture technique based on material removal by Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser scanning. Free shapes could be applied to any three-dimensionally complex hard metal surface and the following issues could be quantitatively evaluated: 1) optimal shape for osteo-conduction; 2) optimal shape for bone-metal implant interlocking; 3) differences in speed of osteo-conduction between metals. In this study, a tartan check shapes made by crossing grooves ranged from 100 to 800µm wide with a depth of 500µm or dot shapes made by forming holes with the same widths and depth were produced on Ti6A14V or CoCr metal pieces (diameter, 5 mm; height, 15 mm). The pieces were implanted into rabbit femoral condyles, and the tissues were retrieved 2 or 4 weeks after implantation. The osteo-conduction was quantitatively evaluated by histological analysis and the strength of bone-metal interlocking was also evaluated by pushout testing. Bone tissue with bone trabeculae formed especially in 500µm-wide grooves in both Ti6A14V and CoCr. Speed of osteo-conduction was faster in Ti6A14V than in CoCr. In pushout testing, the tartan check shape made of 500µm-wide grooves had significantly higher bone-metal interface shear strength than the dot shape or commercial porous coating. These results indicate that the tartan check shape made of 500µm-wide grooves on metal surfaces has potential for clinical application in artificial prosthesis design.