Quantifying Bone Ingrowth in Additively Manufactured Titanium Alloy Baseplates

Description

In this presentation from the ISTA 2024 conference held in Nashville, the speaker, Dr Michael A Kurtz, discusses advancements in the field of orthopedics, specifically focusing on additively manufactured titanium and its effects on bone ingrowth. The introduction touches upon previous findings from animal models demonstrating successful bone integration with titanium structures. Visual aids include both digital images and scanning electron micrographs showing the interface between bone (stained blue) and titanium (shown in black).



The study centers on hybrid manufactured base plates used in tibial implants, where conventionally made components are enhanced with 3D printed porous structures to improve bone integration. The goal of the research is to evaluate the level of bone growth on these surfaces through different imaging techniques, including manual segmentation via digital optical microscopy and a semi-automated method using scanning electron microscopy and ImageJ.



Important findings highlight that bone displays effective ingrowth into both the porous surfaces of the implants and the interfaces of different manufacturing techniques. Results indicate that there are no significant differences in bone ingrowth between implants revised for loosening and those that were not, although further research on mineralization levels is suggested. The speaker concludes with plans to expand the sample size for future studies and opens the floor to questions, engaging with the audience about the implications of their findings in clinical settings.

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