Matthew I R, Frame J W, Browne R M, Millar B G
Unit of Oral Surgery, University of Birmingham, School of Dentistry, UK.
Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1996 Dec;25(6):463-8. doi: 10.1016/s0901-5027(96)80085-3.
This study was undertaken to characterize the surfaces of Champy titanium and stainless steel miniplates and screws that had been used to stabilize fractures of the mandible in an animal model. Miniplates and screws were retrieved at 4, 12, and 24 weeks after surgery. Low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of autoclaved unused (control) and test miniplates from the same production batches was undertaken. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was used to identify compositional variations of the miniplate surface, and Vickers hardness testing was performed. At autopsy, clinical healing of all fractures was noted. SEM analysis indicated no perceptible difference in the surface characteristics of the miniplates at all time intervals. Aluminium and silicon deposits were identified by EDX analysis over the flat surfaces. There was extensive damage to some screw heads. It is concluded that there were no significant changes in the surface characteristics of miniplates retrieved up to 24 weeks after implantation in comparison with controls. Damage to the screws during insertion due to softness of the materials may render their removal difficult. There was no evidence to support the routine removal of titanium or stainless steel miniplates because of surface corrosion up to 6 months after implantation.
本研究旨在对用于稳定动物模型下颌骨骨折的尚皮钛合金和不锈钢微型钢板及螺钉的表面进行表征。术后4周、12周和24周取出微型钢板和螺钉。对同一生产批次的经高压灭菌的未使用（对照）和测试微型钢板进行低真空扫描电子显微镜（SEM）检查。采用能量色散X射线（EDX）分析来识别微型钢板表面的成分变化，并进行维氏硬度测试。尸检时，所有骨折均有临床愈合迹象。SEM分析表明，在所有时间间隔内，微型钢板的表面特征均无明显差异。EDX分析在平面上识别出铝和硅沉积物。一些螺钉头部有广泛损伤。得出的结论是，与对照组相比，植入后长达24周取出的微型钢板表面特征无显著变化。由于材料柔软，插入过程中螺钉受损可能导致其难以取出。没有证据支持因植入后长达6个月的表面腐蚀而常规取出钛合金或不锈钢微型钢板。
