Bone ingrowth into hydroxyapatite coating: a light microscopy and laser scanning microscopy study.

The authors present a description of the presence of organic material inside the hydroxyapatite (HA) coating of Calcitek implants inserted in rabbit tibia. Light microscopy showed that in all specimens a granular basophilic material which was not mineralized was present inside the thickness of the coatings. In two specimens out of 40, a bone-like substance was observed in some areas of the coating, at a distance from the interface. Laser scanning microscopy showed in all specimens an autofluorescence of osteocytes, osteoblasts, of the interface, and inside the coating. The presence of bone could either show an ability of the coating to serve as a scaffold for the newly forming osseous tissue or be a sign of an initial degradation of the HA.