Monetite-based composite cranial implants demonstrate long-term clinical volumetric balance by concomitant bone formation and degradation

The use of calcium phosphates (CaPs) as synthetic bone substitutes should ideally result in a volumetric balance with concomitant bone formation and degradation. Clinical data on such properties is nevertheless lacking, especially for monetite-based CaPs. However, a monetite-based composite implant has recently shown promising cranial reconstructions, with both CaP degradation and bone formation. In this study, the volumetric change at the implant site was quantified longitudinally by clinical computed tomography (CT). The retrospective CT datasets had been acquired postoperatively ( n = 10), in 1-year ( n = 9) and 3-year ( n = 5) follow-ups. In the 1-year follow-up, the total volumetric change at the implant site was-8 +/- 8%. A volumetric increase (bone formation) was found in the implant-bone interface, and a volumetric decrease was observed in the central region (CaP degradation). In the subjects with 2-or 3-year follow-ups, the rate of volumetric decrease slowed down or plateaued. The reported degradation rate is lower than previous clinical studies on monetite, likely due to the presence of pyrophosphate in the monetite-based CaP-formulation. A 31-months retrieval specimen analysis demonstrated that parts of the CaP had been remodeled into bone. The CaP phase composition remained stable, with 6% transformation into hydroxyapatite. In conclusion, this study demonstrates successful bone-bonding between the CaP-material and the recipient bone, as well as a long-term volumetric balance in cranial defects repaired with the monetitebased composite implant, which motivates further clinical use. The developed methods could be used in future studies for correlating spatiotemporal information regarding bone regeneration and CaP degradation to e.g. patient demographics. Statement of significance In bone defect reconstructions, the use of calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramics ideally results in a volumetric balance between bone formation and CaP degradation. Clinical data on the volumetric balance is nevertheless ...