[Integration and resorption of calcium phosphate ceramics in defect filling of fractures of the tibial head. Radiologic long-term results].

Calciumphosphate ceramics are considered as a substitute for cancellous bone grafts. 16 patients with traumatic impressions of the tibial plateau were treated according to the AO-principles and subchondral bone defects were filled with hydroxyapatite (10x) or tricalciumphosphate (6x). Clinical and radiological follow-up after 3 to 10 1/2 years was uneventful with primary bone healing and excellent results in all cases. No adverse reactions of the completely integrated ceramics have been observed. Hydroxyapatite, even after 10 years, showed no proof of biodegradation, whereas tricalciumphosphate showed slow dissolution and replacement by new host bone formations in the later follow-up after 2 to 6 years.