[Titanium implants in accident surgery--when are they necessary?].

The decision on whether to use stainless steel or commercial pure titanium as an implant material in open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) should depend on biomechanical behavior, biocompatibility, resistance to infection, handling characteristics and costs. Based on the results of a prospective randomized clinical study including 281 DC-plates and data available in the literature we will present recommendable guidelines for the choice of the appropriate implant material for individual cases of bone surgery.