Osseointegration of Titanium and Steel Additive Manufactured Implant in Rabbit Tibia under External Fixation: Comparative Study

Relevance. The main goals of successful prosthesis remain ensuring the osseointegration and infectious safety of implants.The purpose of the study — the comparative analysis of osseointegration of titanium and steel additive manufactured implants in the rabbit tibia under additional fixation by Ilizarov apparatus.Materials and Methods. The study was performed on 20 chinchilla male rabbits. The animals of the first group (n = 8 ) were implanted a stainless steel product EOS PH1 (EOS, Germany), the animals of the second group (n = 12) — a titanium alloy Ti6Al4V product. The implant was additionally fixed by Ilizarov apparatus. The implants were processed with additive technology by selective laser fusion at the EOSINT M 280 installation (EOS, Germany). The survival and safety of the implants were assessed using clinical, histological, laboratory and statistical methods.Results. The implant fall due to chronic inflammation was found in 2 animals of group 1 and none in group 2. The formation of weakly mineralized bone tissue on the surface of the implant was noted in 3 weeks in all cases. The bone became more mineralized by the 12th week of the experiment. However, in group 2, the calcium content and Ca / P ratio of the newly formed bone tissue at the 3rd and 12th week after implantation were significantly higher than in the animals of group 1. This indicated the greater maturity of the bone tissue in animals of group 2 at all stages of the experiment. In group 1, the compact plate osteoporosis and calcium-phosphorus balance disturbance were greater.Conclusion. The results of the study indicate that the survival rate (osseointegration) and safety of the product made of the titanium alloy were higher compared with the stainless steel product