RT Journal Article
T1 3D Biomimetic Porous Titanium (Ti6Al4V ELI) Scaffolds for Large Bone Critical Defect Reconstruction: An Experimental Study in Sheep
A1 Crovace, Alberto Maria
A1 Lacitignola, Luca
A1 Monopoli Forleo, Donato
A1 Staffieri, Francesco
A1 Francioso, Edda
A1 Di Meo, Antonio
A1 Becerra-Ratia, José
A1 Crovace, Antonio
A1 Santos-Ruiz, Leonor
K1 Fracturas
K1 Huesos
K1 Titanio - Aleaciones
K1 Implantes artificiales
K1 Biomecánica
K1 Ovejas de laboratorio
K1 Traumatología veterinaria
AB The main goal in the treatment of large bone defects is to guarantee a rapid loading of the affected limb. In this paper, the authors proposed a new reconstructive technique that proved to be suitable to reach this purpose through the use of a custom-made biomimetic porous titanium scaffold. An in vivo study was undertaken where a complete critical defect was experimentally created in the diaphysis of the right tibia of twelve sheep and replaced with a five-centimeter porous scaffold of electron beam melting (EBM)-sintered titanium alloy (EBM group n = 6) or a porous hydroxyapatite scaffold (CONTROL group, n = 6). After surgery, the sheep were allowed to move freely in the barns. The outcome was monitored for up to 12 months by periodical X-ray and clinical examination. All animals in the CONTROL group were euthanized for humane reasons within the first month after surgery due to the onset of plate bending due to mechanical overload. Nine months after surgery, X-ray imaging showed the complete integration of the titanium implant in the tibia diaphysis and remodeling of the periosteal callus, with a well-defined cortical bone. At 12 months, sheep were euthanized, and the tibia were harvested and subjected to histological analysis. This showed bone tissue formations with bone trabeculae bridging titanium trabeculae, evidencing an optimal tissue-metal interaction. Our results show that EBM-sintered titanium devices, if used to repair critical bone defects in a large animal model, can guarantee immediate body weight-bearing, a rapid functional recovery, and a good osseointegration. The porous hydroxyapatite scaffolds proved to be not suitable in this model of large bone defect due to their known poor mechanical properties.
PB MDPI
SN 2076-2615
YR 2020
FD 2020-08-11
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10630/30491
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10630/30491
LA eng
NO Crovace, A.M.; Lacitignola, L.; Forleo, D.M.; Staffieri, F.; Francioso, E.; Di Meo, A.; Becerra, J.; Crovace, A.; Santos-Ruiz, L. 3D Biomimetic Porous Titanium (Ti6Al4V ELI) Scaffolds for Large Bone Critical Defect Reconstruction: An Experimental Study in Sheep. Animals 2020, 10, 1389.
NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad - MINECO (BIO2015-66266-R)Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Programa RETICS. Red Española de Terapia Celular - Red TerCel  (RD16/0011/0022)Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red - CIBER-BBN (CB06/01/0077)Junta de Andalucía (PI-0555-2013)10% Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUA
DS RIUMA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Málaga
RD 20 ene 2026