Osteoconductive properties of carbon fibre implants used in surgery of spine injuries and disorders (case report)

Abstract

Purpose To assess osteoconductive properties of carbon fibre implants used in surgery of spine injuries and disorders. Materials and methods Two clinical cases from a multicentre prospective study on nanostructured carbon fibrous implants applied for a variety of spinal pathology are presented. Results The usage of highly porous carbon fibre implant resulted in bone and carbon fusion in the clinical instances whereas implants with a residual porosity of 7–12 % showed no fusion between bone and carbon. The patients had satisfactory clinical condition and quality of life. Discussion Carbon fibrous implant characteristics are close to those of bone tissue, being inert and osteoconductive along with high mechanical strength that ensure bone and carbon fibrous fusion with highly porous implant.