Abstract

The mechanical properties of porous polysulfone (PSF) were determined and its performance as a surface coating on orthopedic and dental implants evaluated. Ten coated femoral prostheses were implanted in nine dogs. A second series of four uncoated "control" prostheses and all of the acetabular cups were implanted using conventional bone cement techniques. Six porous PSF coated tooth roots were implanted in healed mandibular premolar extraction sites in three Rhesus monkeys. The shear strength of porous PSF (6 MPa) was comparable to that of trabecular bone. Pushout tests of 1cm. thick sections of the prostheses yielded interfacial shear strength values over 1.4 MPa for the PSF coated hips after 14 weeks and mean values under 0.7 MPa for the bone cemented specimens after 3 and 36 weeks. Bone and fibrous tissue was identified in the pores of coated specimens. Preliminary clinical evaluation of the functioning dental implants revealed zero mobility and other favorable clinical and radiographic indications after 2 months.