ABSTRACT
Animal studies have contributed to the understanding of the biological reaction to orthopaedic wear debris. This chapter reviews the different animal models that have contributed to the understanding of the biological effects of wear debris. It divides the models into two major groups: first models with application of wear debris alone into different tissues, and second models in which wear debris is applied in the interface between bone and an implant. Muscle biopsies were analyzed by qualitative histology and knee joints were investigated by macroscopic evaluation of particle location and joint cartilage status as well as qualitative histology of synovial tissue where particle accumulation was observed. In canine model special cylindrical implants were inserted intraarticularly in the knee joints of mature mongrel dogs. In vivo studies have contributed greatly to the understanding of biological effects of orthopaedic wear debris. Models without implants used various locations for particle application such as muscular, subcutaneous, bone marrow and periimplant tissue.
