Bone repair of defects filled with a phosphocalcic hydraulic cement: an in vivo study

A quickly setting calcium phosphate-based hydraulic cement mixed with particles of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramic was implanted in 56 metaphysical defects made in the long bones of ten adult mongrel dogs. Microradiography, histology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated the slow resorption of the cement and the bony incorporation of the calcium phosphate ceramic particles which were consistently embedded in bone. The original structural pattern of the bone tended to be restored 7 months after implantation. The cement did not hinder the incorporation of the calcium phosphate ceramic particles, neither did it elicit any inflammatory or foreign-body response. The cement was easily shaped and allowed a perfect filling of any defect. resulting in close contact of the whole implant surface with the host bone at the time of surgery, associated with appreciable mechanical strength. Most of the practical problems associated with the use of calcium phosphate ceramics in the repair of bone defects could be overcome with the cement.