Open cell titanium foams for bone replacement

Bone replacement of large defects (e.g. due to osteoporotic fractures) is an urgent clinical problem. Recently, such defects are filled by autogenic bone or massive metal implants. Former needs an additional surgical intervention, which is fraught with risk. Latter suffer from a stiffness mismatch between bone and implant, leading to implant loosening. Networklike Titanium foams exhibit a natural bone-like structure, which enables ingrowth of bone cells and blood vessels. Hence, open cell Titanium foams have been developed via powder metallurgical replication method. This technique allows the adjusting of mechanical properties to the properties of different types of bones, e.g. young bones or old osteoporotic bones. Here, we will introduce the fabrication and specific mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V foams for applications in the vertebral column. Furthermore, results of the first in vitro studies, data on the biocompatibility and the ingrowth behaviour of bone cells into the titanium foam are presented.