Osteogenic response to porous hydroxyapatite ceramics under the skin of dogs.

Soft tissue reactions to two materials of different microstructure made with porous and dense hydroxyapatite ceramic granules, were compared in this study. Each was implanted subcutaneously in the abdomen of 10 dogs. The implants were removed 1, 3 and 6 months after implantation, and examined by light microscopy. Heterotopic bone formation was only evident around porous hydroxyapatite ceramic granules in 6 of the 10 animals after 3 months, and in all cases after 6 months, but never around dense granules. These findings suggested that cellular differentiation and induction of osteogenesis may be influenced by the physical and chemical factors in the micromilieu provided by porous hydroxyapatite ceramic granules.