Geometry of porous hydroxyapatite implants influences osteogenesis in baboons (Papio ursinus)

Coral-derived porous hydroxyapatite disks of two geometric configurations were implanted in 16 calvarial defects, 25 mm in diameter, prepared in eight subadult male baboons (Papio ursinus). To determine whether the orientation of the exoskeletal microstructures (corallites) influences bone ingrowth and osteogenesis, hydroxyapatite disks were prepared by cutting the coral either longitudinally or transversally, to obtain two distinct implant geometries defined by the orientation of the corallites. In the same animals, 16 defects were left untreated to assess the regeneration potential of the subadult baboon calvaria. Disks of both geometric configurations were also implanted in heterotopic intramuscular sites to investigate their osteoinductive potential. Histomorphometric analysis on undecalcified and decalcified sections prepared from specimens harvested on day 90 after surgery showed that greater amounts of bone formed in porous hydroxyapatites cut in the longitudinal plane when compared with hydroxyapatites cut in the transversal plane (p < 0.01). Bone formed in hydroxyapatite specimens harvested from the intramuscular sites, but no difference in bone formation was found between the two geometric configurations. Untreated defects showed limited osteogenesis, comparable with a previous series of untreated defects identically prepared in adult baboon calvariae. This finding suggests that skeletally mature, adult primates may not be a requirement for evaluation of craniofacial. bone substitutes. These results in a primate indicate that hydroxyapatite disks are able to induce bone differentiation when implanted in intramuscular sites, and that the geometric configuration of the porous hydroxyapatite influences bone ingrowth and osteogenesis in orthotopic calvarial sites. This should be taken into consideration when designing porous bone substitutes for craniofacial applications.