Introduction: Due to a lack of uniform shapes and sizes of bone defects in hip and knee joint pathology, their fixing could benefit from using individually manufactured 3D-printed highly porous titanium implants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of bone and muscle tissue integration into porous titanium implants manufactured using additive technology.
Materials and methods: Porous and non-porous titanium plates were implanted into the latissimus dorsi muscle and tibia of 9 rabbits. On days 1, 60 and 90 animals were examined with x-rays. On day 60 histological tests were carried out. On day 90 the tensile strength at the implant-tissue interface was tested.
Results: Histological analysis of muscle samples with porous titanium implants showed integration of connective tissue and blood vessels into the pores. Bone defect analysis demonstrated bone ingrowth into the pores of titanium with a minimal amount of fibrous tissue. The tensile strength of the muscular tissue attachment to the porous titanium was 28 (22-30) N which was higher than that of the control group 8.5 (5-11) N. Bone tissue attachment strength was 148 (140-152) N in the experimental group versus 118 (84-122) N in the control group.
Conclusions: Using additive technology in manufacturing 3D-printed highly porous titanium implants improves bone and muscle integration compared with the non-porous material of the control group. This could be a promising approach to bone defect repair in revision and reconstruction surgery.
Keywords: Additive technology; osseointegration; porous titanium implant; soft tissue integration.