SEDL / STP / STP386-EB / STP43782S

Studies On Polymer Implants In Humans

Johnson, F. B.
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C.

Pages: 3    Published: Jan 1965

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Abstract

The clinical, gross and microscopic findings in cases of plastic implantation in humans for vascular prosthesis and for plastic surgery have been reviewed. Reactions to the following materials are included: Cellophane, Dacron, Nylon, Orlon, polyethylene, and Teflon. The plastic implants are associated with varying intensities of inflammatory reaction and fibrosis. The principal causes of functional failure are thrombosis, hemorrhage, and excessive fibrosis. At times the hemorrhage can be shown to be due to fragmentation of the plastic with loss of mechanical integrity. No specific or characteristic inflammatory lesions were found to be due to any particular plastic. None of the tissues showed evidence of malignant changes.