Effect of age on bone formation around orthopaedic implants.

Bone and mineral metabolism are known to change with age, but studies of biologic fixation have traditionally ignored or poorly documented the effect of age on the quality and quantity of bone about implants. This study documents the effect of age on quality and quantity of biologic fixation about hydroxyapatite-coated and uncoated implants in young and old sheep. Mechanical and histologic tests demonstrate comparable fixation of implants in young and old sheep, indicating that age is not a dominant factor in the development or failure of implant osseointegration.