Polyethylene and titanium alloy particles reduce bone formation: Dose-dependence in bone harvest chamber experiments in rabbits

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Particles similar to those generated from joint replacements affect net bone formation within the Bone Harvest Chamber in rabbits. Whether these effects depend on the concentration of particulate materials is unknown. In this study, we performed a histomorphologic and morphometric analysis of net bone formation in the Bone Harvest Chamber in the presence of different concentrations of phagocy-tosable particles of high density polyethylene and titanium 6-aluminum 4-vanadium alloy. Chambers were implanted in 9 mature New Zealand white rabbits bilaterally. Concentrations of 106 107 and 108 polyethylene particles/mL, and 108 and 109 parti-cles/mL of titanium alloy in 1 % sodium hyaluronate carrier were implanted for 3-week periods in sequence in each of the chambers. 3-week control periods in which nothing was implanted in the chamber were included between the treatments. Increasing concentrations of polyethylene particles were associated with a more marked foreign body response and fibrosis. Net bone formation for the three polyethylene doses was reduced by 11 %, 21 % and 33% of controls, respectively. For titanium alloy, net bone formation was reduced by 8% and 56% of controls, for concentrations of 108 and 109 particles/mL, respectively. Our findings suggest possible adverse effects of wear debris on net bone formation and bony remodeling in the prosthetic bed, when concentrations of specific particles reach critical local levels.