Fig. 5.

The gross specimen of goat femur observation (A: Normal femur; B: Implantation 9 months; C: Implantation 12 months; D: Implantation 18 months) and Imaging analyses of bone defects after 9, 12 and 18 months. X-ray images and 3D μ-CT reconstructions of samples each time point. (A) The gross observation results showed that the intramedullary nails were fixed firmly, there was no angular dislocation for implants at the bone defect, and the new bone regeneration and reconstruction were obvious. (B) X-ray results showed the stable bone bonding between the implant material and the host bone. Bone formation along the intramedullary nail and disappearance of the fracture line were observed and the characteristic long bone morphology by dense cortical bone and bone marrow cavity composed of cancellous bone has been partially restored at 9 months implantation, and most of the defects were replaced by new bone at 12 months implantation, and the long bone morphology was almost restored at 18 months implantation. (C) 3D μ-CT reconstruction showed part of the defect had been replaced by new bone, while the BCP scaffold had been wrapped by new bone could be seen at 9 months implantation, obvious bone remodeling could be seen at 12 months implantation, and cortical bone remodeling at 18 implantation. (D) Representative tomographic images demonstrating the current working threshold to segment the new bone (grey) from the remaining bioceramic body (red). (E) Biomechanical testing results after 9, 12 and 18 months. Data are median values. Error bars are minimum and maximum values. *P < 0.05,**P < 0.01.