title: Influence of materials for fixation implants on local infection. An experimental study of steel versus titanium DCP in rabbits.
abstract: Resistance to infection may be influenced by foreign bodies such as devices for fracture fixation. It is known that stainless steel and commercially-pure titanium have different biocompatibilities. We have investigated susceptibility to infection after a local bacterial challenge using standard 2.0 dynamic compression plates of either stainless steel or titanium in rabbit tibiae. After the wounds had been closed, various concentrations of a strain of Staphylococcus aureus were inoculated percutaneously. Under otherwise identical experimental conditions the rate of infection for steel plates (75%) was significantly higher than that for titanium plates (35%) (p < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: AO/ASIF Research Institute, Davos, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arens
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlegel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Printzen
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Perren
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hansis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D016268:Internal Fixators; D011817:Rabbits; D013193:Stainless Steel; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013977:Tibia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D013193:Stainless Steel; D014025:Titanium