Sintered hydroxyapatite for a percutaneous device and its clinical application.

The sintered hydroxyapatite was designed to be utilized as a percutaneous device. The device was percutaneously fixed through the back skin of mongrel dogs. The tissue reaction around the implants was examined histologically. At 1 month the sintered hydroxyapatite was closely contacted with the skin tissue and downgrowth of epidermis was not observed. The long-term implantation ranging from 3 to 17 months showed that the depth of epidermis downgrowth was limited to only 1 mm. The amino acid composition of fibrous capsule formed around the hydroxyapatite showed close resemblance to vertebrate periosteum. It was confirmed that the sintered hydroxyapatite had good compatibility and long-term stability with skin tissue.