Sabou Ioan; Gherman (Dragomir) Madalina Florina; Ober Ciprian; Miclaus Viorel; Ratiu Cristian2; Oros Nicusor1; Alexandru Bogdan4 & Oana Liviu

Summary

Orthopedic implants require effective osseointegration to function optimally and withstand weight-bearing and muscle forces. This study aimed to evaluate the process of osteogenesis induced by titanium screws implanted in the femur of female rabbits. Five domestic female rabbits were divided into two groups. Titanium screws were inserted into the femur diaphysis through drilled orifices smaller than the screw core. Specifically, a 1-mm hole was drilled, followed by the insertion of 2-mm self-tapping titanium screws using a screwdriver. After duration of six weeks, the animals were humanely euthanized, and histological and morphometric analyses were conducted. Histological examination revealed that the area adjacent to the bone wall was covered by a thin layer of newly formed bone tissue. In contrast, the periosteal and endosteal regions exhibited a thick layer of newly formed bone extending over the interface surface. This significant bone growth progressed outward in the periosteal area and inward in the endosteal area, leading to a remarkable expansion of the interface. Similar findings have been reported by other authors, who noted that the interface surface can even double in some instances, resulting in a fan-like appearance. The insertion of the titanium screw into a hole smaller than its core exerts excessive pressure on the bone, affecting the entire bone-implant interface. One consequence of this pressure is a decrease in the mechanical strength of the bone. In response, the body attempts to restore the preoperative strength by proliferating bone-strengthening formations. This newly formed bone extends laterally from the interface, significantly contributing to the engorgement of the bone wall in both the periosteal and endosteal regions. KEY WORDS: Bone proliferation; Consolidation; Titanium implant.

How to cite this article

SABOU, I.; GHERMAN (DRAGOMIR) M. F.; OBER, C.; MICLAUS, V.; RATIU, C.; OROS, N.; ALEXANDRU, B. & OANA, L. Consolidation structures proliferated around a titanium implant implanted in the female rabbit femur in an orifice smaller than the screw core. Int. J. Morphol., 43(2):600-605, 2025.