title: Cracking of a coated orthopaedic external fixation connecting bar.
abstract: During the course of a routine orthopaedic surgical procedure, a stainless steel external fixation connecting bar was deliberately bent to accommodate the patient's anatomy. It was found that the bar carried a nickel electrodeposited coating that flaked off the bar surface due to the bending. It is believed that the presence of a nickel coating might cause adverse tissue responses in patients and surgeons should be aware that connecting bars for external fixators might carry such coatings.
mesh_terms: D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D009532:Nickel