OBJECTIVETo establish an animal model of titanium implant and to investigate the effects of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on the implant osseointegration.

METHODSTwenty-four female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used. Titanium implants were inserted into tibia metaphysis bilaterally in each SD rat. Since the second day following implant surgery, LIPUS stimulation were carried out around the implant on the right side for 20 minutes per day, and implants on the left side remain untouched as self-control. Eight rats were sacrificed and tibiae specimens were harvested on the end of the 4th, 8th, and 12th week respectively. X-ray picture, micro-CT analysis and histological sections were performed to evaluate the effects of LIPUS on the implant osseointegration.

RESULTSOsseointegration at the interface between the implant and bone tissue was observed bilaterally. In the micro-CT histomorphometry analysis, the percentage of osseointegration (%OI) of experiment side were (45.708 ± 3.316)%, (46.231 ± 1.954)%, and (46.807 ± 1.451)% on the end of the 4th, 8th, and 12th week. Meanwhile, the %OI of control side were (43.021 ± 3.558)%, (44.272 ± 3.023)%, and (44.894 ± 4.215)% respectively. The %OI on the 4th weekend, bone volume ratio (BV/TV) on the 4th and 8th weekend, trabecular thickness (Tb. Th) and degree of anisotropy (DA) on the 8th and 12th weekend of the experiment side tibia were significantly greater than those on the control side (P < 0.05). The histological examination showed that the thickness of new bone around the implant and the bone-implant contact area was obviously greater in the LIPUS treated side compared to the control side.

CONCLUSIONSThe LIPUS therapy may accelerate the bone healing and osseointegration at the interface between titanium implant and bone, and promote remodeling of bone trabecula on the early stage.