title: Bacterial adherence to titanium, poly-L-lactic acid, and composite hydroxyapatite and poly-L-lactic acid interference screws.
abstract: This study investigates a potential site of bacterial adherence, the implant surface, comparing titanium, poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), and composite hydroxyapatite and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA-HA) interference screws using a bioluminescent in vitro model. Interference screws of three materials, titanium (Arthrex, Naples, FL), bioabsorbable poly-L-lactic acid (BIORCI, Smith & Nephew, Andover, MA), and bioabsorbable composite hydroxyapatite and poly-L-lactic acid (BIORCI-HA, Smith & Nephew, Andover, MA) were immersed in a broth of bioluminescent Staphylococcus aureus. The screws were irrigated and then imaged with a photon-capturing camera system yielding a total photon count correlating with residual adherent bacteria. The titanium screws had the lowest mean total bacterial counts followed by the PLLA-HA screws and with the PLLA screws having the highest mean total counts. The difference in means between the titanium group and the PLLA group was statistically significant (p < .001). Titanium interference screws have less bacterial adherence than comparable bioabsorbable PLLA screws.
authors: Brooke Army Medical Center, Ft. Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA. Brendan.Masini@amedd.army.mil
authors: Brendan D
authors: BD
authors: Masini
authors: Daniel J
authors: DJ
authors: Stinner
authors: Scott M
authors: SM
authors: Waterman
authors: Joseph C
authors: JC
authors: Wenke
authors: Tad L
authors: TL
authors: Gerlinger
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000382:microbiology*; D017886:Durapatite; D004867:Equipment Design; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008422:Materials Testing; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D017886:Durapatite; D014025:Titanium