Increased corrosion of stainless steel implants in infected plated fractures.

Correlation has previously been observed between the incidence of metal hypersensitivity (Ni, Cr, Co) and the incidence of infection after internal fixation of bone fractures. As there is no doubt that exposure to high concentrations of metal can cause allergy, metal levels (Cr, Ni, Mo, Co) were analyzed in implant contact tissues by ASS. Both the absolute concentration of the ions and the Ni:Cr ratio in the tissues adjacent to metal implants is greater in infected cases than in non-infected. Thus infection as a cause of allergy has to be considered. In view of the resulting problems perhaps consideration could be given to the use of a different alloy for metal implants.