Titanium metal release after posterior cervical spine plate placement in a canine model.
The local tissue concentration of released titanium from Ti-6Al-4V posterior cervical spine plates in canines was determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The plates were also evaluated for percentage of surface area damage. The highest titanium levels (> 100 ppm dry weight) and most severe surface damage were associated with screw-plate interfaces. A model to explain the metal release mechanisms was proposed, consisting of a combination of fretting wear, diffusion through the passive oxide layer, and dissolution of this layer.
Martinez
M L
ML
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.
Anderson
R C
RC
Bundy
K J
KJ
Dinh
D H
DH
D000818:Animals; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000009:adverse effects; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D016339:Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment; D014025:Titanium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism