Fig. 3.

Histologies of bioactive coated (a, b), rough blasted (c, d) and untreated (e, f) pedicle screws implanted in the vertebral pedicles (L2–L5) of OVX (a, c, e) and SHAM (b, d, f) sheep at a magnification of ×10 (Fuchsin acid and Fast green) (Scale bar 400 μm). All tested screws are in direct contact with peri-implant bone. Signs of bone rarefaction are evident in OVX sheep. The presence of coatings improves the screw–biomaterial interface even in the presence of osteopenia and no areas of biomaterial not in direct contact with bone are visible