Macroporous biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics: influence of macropore diameter and macroporosity percentage on bone ingrowth.

A total of 60 cylindrical 6 x 6 mm samples of a macroporous biphasic calcium phosphate (MBCP) ceramic were implanted into a distal femoral site in 30 rabbits. These samples represented six kinds of implants with two different macropore diameters and three different macroporosity percentages. Analysis of backscattered electron images of implant surfaces analysed by a factorial design method showed that implants with 565 microm pore size provided more abundant newly formed bone both in peripheral and deep pores than those with 300 microm pore size. No significant differences were found between implants with 40 and 50% macroporosity, suggesting that the influence of macropore size on bone ingrowth was greater than that of macroporosity percentage. MBCP implants with 565 microm pore diameter and 40% macroporosity represented the optimal association for homogeneous and abundant bone ingrowth.