Porous polysulfone coatings for fixation of femoral stems by bony ingrowth.

Sixteen porous polysulfone-coated canine femoral stems were inserted into 14 dogs. Coatings were approximately 40% porous, with an average pore size of 125 or 250 microns. Bone was formed within at least about 30% of the surface pores of the implants. The tissue ingrowths filling the pores included marrow and fibrous tissue. Correlated roentgenographic and histologic observations revealed a trabecular "lamina dura" at the coating-bone interface and relatively dense trabeculae distal to the stem tip. These observations support the concept of coating femoral prostheses with porous material for cement-free stabilization.