Compressive and bone-bonding strength of hydroxyapatite thermal decomposition product implanted in the femur of rabbit as a bioactive ceramic bone cement.

Hydroxyapatite thermal decomposition product (HATDP) after mixing with water was injected into the femur of rabbits, and its biocompatibility, compressive strength and bone-bonding strength were investigated. The compressive strength of a block of HATDP was 56.0 MPa 4 weeks after injection, which was about 60% of that of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) cement. The bone-bonding strength was 8.2 MPa 4 weeks after injection, which was significantly higher than that of PMMA cement. HATDP seems to be useful as a cement material because of its good bone-bonding property and relatively high mechanical strength.