An evaluation of the potential consequences of drilling titanium and tantalum implants during surgery - a pilot study

作者：Skowronek Pawel; Olszewski Pawel; Swieszkowski Wojciech; Sibinski Marcin; Synder Marek; Polguj Michal^*

来源：BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2017, 18(1): 426.

DOI：10.1186/s12891-017-1784-x

• Hip arthroplasty
• Knee arthroplasty
• Augments
• Revision
• Loosening
• Drilling

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential consequences of drilling titanium alloy (Ti) and tantalum (Ta) implants.
Methods: During an in vitro study, four holes were made in each of two spatially porous trabecular implants: one Ta and the other Ti alloy (Ti-6Al-7Nb). The weight and the volume of particles produced during the drilling were then measured using a Radwag XA 110/2X (USA) laboratory balance.
Results: The loss of mass of the Ti and Ta implants was respectively 1.26 g and 2.48 g, and the volume of free particles was respectively 280 mm(3) and 149 mm(3). The particles were recovered after each stage. Despite the use of 5 mu m filters, around 0.6% of the total implant mass from both implants was not recovered after drilling (roughly 2% of the mass of the particles created).
Conclusion: It is technically difficult to make holes in Ti and Ta implants using standard surgical tools, and the process creates a significant amount of metal particles which cannot be removed, despite intensive flushing. This may have a potentially adverse influence on the survival of the implant and result in negative systemic consequences.

• 出版日期2017-11-3