The response of cancellous and cortical canine bone to hydroxylapatite-coated and uncoated titanium rods.

Because of the recent trend in total hip arthroplasty to achieve direct contact of the endoprosthesis with cortical bone, comparison of bone apposition from cortical bone and cancellous bone was performed. The response of cortical and cancellous bone to hydroxylapatite was also compared. Implants in cortical bone demonstrated a higher interface shear strength and more bone apposition than those in cancellous bone over all time periods tested. Hydroxylapatite coating increased the interfacial shear and bone apposition in cortical bone at all time periods and in both the 3- and 6-week cancellous bone models. The potential effect of stress shielding (and subsequent bone resorption) by femoral stems ingrown with cortical bone is discussed.