SEDL / STP / STP684-EB / STP35946S

Orthopedic Implant Retrieval and Analysis Study

Weinstein, AM
Professor of biomedical engineering and codirector of the Biomaterials Laboratory, professor of biomedical engineering and codirector of the Biomaterials Laboratory, postdoctoral research fellow at the Biomaterials Laboratory, and assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the school of medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, La

Spires, WP
Product development engineer, Depuy, Warsaw, Ind

Klawitter, JJ
Professor of biomedical engineering and codirector of the Biomaterials Laboratory, professor of biomedical engineering and codirector of the Biomaterials Laboratory, postdoctoral research fellow at the Biomaterials Laboratory, and assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the school of medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, La

Clemow, AJT
Professor of biomedical engineering and codirector of the Biomaterials Laboratory, professor of biomedical engineering and codirector of the Biomaterials Laboratory, postdoctoral research fellow at the Biomaterials Laboratory, and assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the school of medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, La

Edmunds, JO
Professor of biomedical engineering and codirector of the Biomaterials Laboratory, professor of biomedical engineering and codirector of the Biomaterials Laboratory, postdoctoral research fellow at the Biomaterials Laboratory, and assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the school of medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, La

Pages: 17    Published: Oct 1979

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Abstract

The incidence and degree of corrosion of a series of Type 316L stainless steel orthopedic internal fixation devices has been investigated. A complete metallurgical analysis and clinical analysis was performed for each case. Seventeen devices were studied, consisting of a total of 91 components, of which in excess of 95 percent exhibited either fretting or crevice corrosion or a combination of both. This localized attack was observed in all cases. A corrosion index was defined for each component, and this was related to the length of time in situ and to the clinical reason for removal of the device. No correlation between degree of corrosion and time in situ was observed. Crevice and fretting corrosion were found to be two separate mechanisms, but may act simultaneously and are often indistinguishable from each other at low magnifications.