A novel, nonresorbable, monolithic composite structure ceramic, developed using a partially stabilized zirconia ceramic common to implantable devices, was used in a cementless weight-bearing articular implant to test the feasibility of replacing a region of degenerated or damaged articular cartilage in the knee as part of a preclinical study using male mongrel dogs lasting up to 24 weeks. Gross/histological cartilage observations showed no differences among control, 12-week and 24-week groups, while pull-out tests showed an increase in maximum pull-out load over time relative to controls. Hence, the use of a novel ceramic implant as a replacement for a focal cartilage defect leads to effective implant fixation within 12 weeks and does not cause significant degradation in opposing articular cartilage in the time frame evaluated.
CoxaPro
> Clinical Library > Tervetuloa Clinical Libraryyn > Preclinical Evaluation of a Novel Implant for Treatment of a Full-Thickness Distal Femoral Focal Cartilage Defect
The Journal of Arthroplasty, Volume 28, Issue 8, 1421 - 1429
Knee
Preclinical Evaluation of a Novel Implant for Treatment of a Full-Thickness Distal Femoral Focal Cartilage Defect
Waldorff, Erik I. et al.Knee