A Removal Torque and Histomorphometric Study of Bone Tissue Reactions to Commercially Pure Titanium and Vitallium® Implants

Screw-shaped commercially pure (CP) titanium and Vitallium® implants were inserted in the rabbit tibial metaphysis. After a healing period of 3 months, it was demonstrated that a higher torque was needed to remove the CP titanium implants (average 24.9 Ncm) compared to Vitallium implants (average 11.7 Ncm). The histomorphometric part of the study revealed more bone-to-metal contact for the CP titanium implants (average 34.7%) compared to the Vitallium implants (average 21.7%). The results obtained in this study could be explained by differences in the topography or in biocompatibility of the metals, or a combination of these two factors. Keywords: biocompatibility, commercially pure titanium, surface topography, Vitallium®