SEDL / STP / STP1431-EB / STP11130S

Corrosion on Spinal Implant Constructs: Should Standards Be Revised?

Kirkpatrick, JS
Associate Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama

Venugolopalan, R
Research Assistant Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama

Bibbs, M
Student Assistant, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama

Lemons, JE
Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama

Beck, P
Research Assistant, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama

Pages: 4    Published: Jan 2003

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Abstract

Corrosion is known to occur on modular spinal implants but design features such and material, surface finish, and interconnection characteristics have not been related to corrosion. Literature review was combined with retrieval analysis of thirty-three constructs to identify which design features were associated with corrosion. Corrosion was found consistently on implants where stainless steel components with differing surface finishes (Matte and polished) were designed with rigid interconnections. No clear direction for new standards activity was identified.