Experimental study of the bone substitution with ceramic biomaterials formulated as bone cements

Abstract

Ceramic biomaterials have interesting biological properties that can be used in bone substitution. In this study two calcium phosphate bone cements were compared to cancellous bone autograft. A bone cavitary defect of 6 mm in diameter was carried out in the right distal femoral methaphyses of 36 male rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculi. The animals were divided into 3 groups of 12 rabbits receiving a tricalcium phosphate cement (TPC), monocalcium phosphate cement (MPC) and autologous bone (CON) as implants. The radiological and histological studies showed a correct substitution of both biomaterials with new bone. The histomorphometric study revealed that the bone neoformation obtained with the two cements at 4 and 12 weeks is equivalent to the bone generated by the bone graft. There were no significant differences in the reabsorption of the materials. Finally, this work concluded that the calcium phosphate bone cements are osteoconductive, osteotransductive and biocompatible materials which behave as bone substitutes.