A new model to assess tibial fixation. II. Concurrent histologic and biomechanical observations.

A tibial hemiarthroplasty model was designed to allow concurrent histologic and biomechanical analysis of the tibial implant-bone interface. In this study, micromotion was visually observed at the implant-bone interface of cemented and uncemented implants. Six dogs had staged bilateral implantation. Biomechanical analysis of three- and 12-month specimens was correlated with histologic analysis of the same specimen. Load transmission involved compression of trabecular bone and fibrous tissue at the interface. Failure of the interface occurred through cyclic fatigue and microfracture of trabeculae. Micromotion was seen at all interfaces, porous or smooth, cemented or uncemented. Displacement was greatest under an eccentrically loaded plateau. Micromotion at ingrown and cemented interfaces was because of trabecular compression. Uncemented smooth devices and uncemented porous devices with fibrous fixation of the plateau appeared unstable. The cemented implants and a single uncemented implant studied at 12 months showed no interface micromovement. The absence of micromovement in the uncemented implant was associated with subsidence and with ingrowth of 30% into the porous peg and porous plateau.