Purpose: The histological differences between the defect and contact areas of the implant surface to bone were tested in 35 New Zealand White rabbits in a standardized model. Microwave plasma chemical vapor-coated implant probes were tested in control and uncoated materials.
Material and methods: In each femur of 35 rabbits, cylindrical implant rods with a planed side were inserted. Three groups, divided in coated and uncoated material at half, were observed 42, 84 and 168 days. The probes were examined histologically for bone-implant contact in the curved and plane (defect area) sides.
Results: Generally the bone-implant contact seems to be nearly constant in time in the curved area of coated and uncoated probes. Here the implant was inserted in the press-fit mode. Diamond-coated probes showed similar bone-implant contact (51.9% (42 days), 62.5% (84 days), 56.1% (168 days)) compared to uncoated material (56.2%, 65.4%, 62.9%). The defect area (plane side) had no bone-implant contact at the time of insertion and showed increasing values on longer observation times with only significant differences in the 42-day group between coated (17.85%, 35.2%, 47.7%) and uncoated materials (35.5%, 40.55%, 51.81%).
Conclusion: The evaluation of the curved side of the implant probe showed no great variation of bone-implant contact within the described observation times. This model simulates the usual implant insertion situation. The diamond-coated material becomes osseointegrated at a later time point. The bone-implant contact was only statistically relevant in one group in comparison to uncoated material.