Effect of surface finish on the osseointegration of laser-treated titanium alloy implants

It was the purpose of this study to examine the osseointegration of laser-textured titanium alloy (Ti6Al4 V) implants with pore sizes of 100, 200, and 300 μm, specifically comparing 200-μm implants with polished and corundum-blasted surfaces in a rabbit transcortical model. Using a distal and proximal implantation site in the distal femoral cortex, each animal received all four different implants in both femora. The bone–implant interface and the newly formed bone tissue within the pores and in peri-implant bone tissue were examined 3, 6, and 12 weeks post-implantation by static and dynamic histomorphometry. Here we show that additional surface blasting of laser-textured Ti6Al4 V implants with 200-μm pores resulted in a profound improvement in osseointegration, 12 weeks postimplantation. Although lamellar bone formation was found in pores of all sizes, the amount of lamellar bone within pores was linearly related to pore size. In 100-μm pores, bone remodeling occurred with a pronounced time lag relative to larger pores. Implants with 300-μm pores showed a delayed osseointegration compared with 200-μm pores. We conclude that 200 μm may be the optimal pore size for laser-textured Ti6Al4 V implants, and that laser treating in combination with surface blasting may be a very interesting technology for the structuring of implant surfaces.