The effect of alkali and heat treatment on bone bonding ability of tantalum

摘要

A previous in vitro study demonstrated that alkali and heat treatment provide tantalum an ability to form apatite on its surface. The effects of the treatment on the bone-bonding ability of tantalum implants were evaluated in rabbit tibiae. Smooth-surfaced implants (15x10x2 mm) of pure tantalum (Ta) and alkali-and heat-treated Ta were implanted into the tibial metaphyses of mature rabbits. A tensile testing and histological examination of the bone-implant interface were performed at 8 and 16 weeks after implantation. The tensile failure loads between implant and bone were measured by a detaching test. The tensile failure loads of alkali-and heat-treated group were 0.25 kgf and 2.21 kgf,at 8 and 16 weeks, respectively. In contrast, those of control group were nearly 0 kgf even at 16 weeks. Histological examination revealed that alkali-and heat-treated group was in direct contact with bone tissue, but control group had thin intervening fibrous tissue between the implant and bone.