In vitro short-term response of human erythrocytes to implant materials used in maxillo-facial rigid internal fixation.

A short-term in vitro experimental study was performed to analyze the effects of metallic miniplates used in maxillo-facial rigid internal fixation on some functional features of human erythrocytes that represent a pivotal rheological component for correct blood flow in the tissular area surrounding metallic implants. In our working conditions, no interference on osmotic fragility, intracellular ATP content and spontaneous hemolysis was observed. Conversely, a statistically significant increase of rigidity in the deeper lipid region of erythrocyte membrane was verified. On the basis of our results, the in vitro erythrocyte modifications after 18 h of whole blood/metallic device contact are relatively small and negligible.