Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2019, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (18): 2812-2816.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.1726

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Effects of mixed use of different materials of implants on fracture healing

Lü Guodong
  

  1. the First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College of Inner Mongolia University of Science & Technology, Baotou 014010, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2019-01-28 Online:2019-06-28 Published:2019-06-28
  • About author:Lü Guodong, Master, the First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College of Inner Mongolia University of Science & Technology, Baotou 014010, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: As the two most commonly used implant materials in orthopedic surgery, stainless steel and titanium alloy, are inevitably to contact with each other in clinical application. But the effect of the combined application of internal fixation on peripheral tissue disturbance and fracture healing is rarely reported.
OBJECTIVE: To observe and evaluate the effects of simple and mixed use of different materials of implants (stainless steel and titanium alloy) on inflammatory response and bone healing in the surrounding tissues of fractures.
METHODS: Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits (provided by the Animal Lab of the First Affiliated Hospital of aotou Medical College of Inner Mongolia University of Science & Technology) were selected to establish the model of tibial fracture. The rabbit models were randomly divided into four groups, and underwent internal fixation with stainless steel plate and screw (group A), stainless steel plate and titanium screw (group B), titanium plate and screw (group C), or titanium plate and stainless screw (group D). The tibia specimens were removed at 6 and 12 weeks after surgery for X-ray and histological examinations.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Hematoxylin-eosin staining: at 6 weeks after surgery, all the specimens around the plants in each group had medium amount of inflammatory cell infiltration, with abundant lymphocytes, few neutrophils, and visible capillaries and fibrous cells. At 12 weeks after surgery, the number of lymphocytes in each group was decreased, with occasional macrophages and neutrophils. The thickness of the fibrous membrane on the surface of the bone plate was decreased significantly compared with that at 6 weeks after surgery. There was no significant difference between groups at different time points after surgery. (2) X-ray results: at 6 weeks after surgery, the fracture reduction was good in each group, the position of internal fixators was good, and the fracture line was blurred. No obvious callus formation was observed on the fracture line and around the implant, and no significant difference was found among groups. At 12 weeks after surgery, the fracture lines in each group disappeared. The internal fixators were in good position, and the callus could not be revealed well due to internal fixator covering. After removal of internal fixators, callus formation was observed along the edge of fixed part, and obvious callus formation was observed at the fracture end of the original fracture. There was no significant difference among groups. (3) These results indicate that in animal experiments, the internal fixation of fracture with different materials (stainless steel and titanium) implants cannot cause severe inflammatory reaction and makes no effect on the speed of fracture healing.

Key words: internal fixation, stainless steel, titanium alloy, screw, plate, implants, mixed use, bone healing, fracture healing

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