Patrick Haubruck1, Gerhard Schmidmaier2. 1. Klinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Schlierbacher Landstraße 200a, 69118, Heidelberg, Deutschland. 2. Klinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Schlierbacher Landstraße 200a, 69118, Heidelberg, Deutschland. gerhard.schmidmaier@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite modern treatment options, implant-associated infections (IAI) remain a severe and challenging complication in the treatment of trauma patients. Almost 30 years after the introduction of implants made of titanium alloy into the treatment of trauma patients, there is still no uniform consensus regarding the clinical benefit of titanium alloy in the context of patients with IAI. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine if implants made of titanium alloy have been proven to be less susceptible regarding IAI in contrast to implants made of stainless steel. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A review of the current literature on IAI in association with the utilized implant material was conducted. Relevant articles from the years 1995 to 2016 were searched in the PubMed database. A total of 183 articles were identified and all abstracts were reviewed for relevance. A total of 14 articles met the inclusion criteria and were stratified according to the level of evidence and furthermore evaluated regarding the influence of the implant material on IAI. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Considerable debate remains concerning the influence of the implant material on the susceptibility to IAI; however, the available literature shows that despite slight tendencies, there is no proof of titanium alloy being favorable in the susceptibility to IAI. Furthermore, the literature shows that the design of plates for osteosynthesis might influence IAI. In particular, plates that cause less soft tissue damage and preserve perfusion of the periosteum proved to be beneficial regarding IAI.
BACKGROUND: Despite modern treatment options, implant-associated infections (IAI) remain a severe and challenging complication in the treatment of traumapatients. Almost 30 years after the introduction of implants made of titanium alloy into the treatment of traumapatients, there is still no uniform consensus regarding the clinical benefit of titanium alloy in the context of patients with IAI. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine if implants made of titanium alloy have been proven to be less susceptible regarding IAI in contrast to implants made of stainless steel. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A review of the current literature on IAI in association with the utilized implant material was conducted. Relevant articles from the years 1995 to 2016 were searched in the PubMed database. A total of 183 articles were identified and all abstracts were reviewed for relevance. A total of 14 articles met the inclusion criteria and were stratified according to the level of evidence and furthermore evaluated regarding the influence of the implant material on IAI. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Considerable debate remains concerning the influence of the implant material on the susceptibility to IAI; however, the available literature shows that despite slight tendencies, there is no proof of titanium alloy being favorable in the susceptibility to IAI. Furthermore, the literature shows that the design of plates for osteosynthesis might influence IAI. In particular, plates that cause less soft tissue damage and preserve perfusion of the periosteum proved to be beneficial regarding IAI.
Authors: W J Metsemakers; R Kuehl; T F Moriarty; R G Richards; M H J Verhofstad; O Borens; S Kates; M Morgenstern Journal: Injury Date: 2016-09-11 Impact factor: 2.586
Authors: D Hudetz; S Ursic Hudetz; L G Harris; R Luginbühl; N F Friederich; R Landmann Journal: Clin Microbiol Infect Date: 2008-12 Impact factor: 8.067