gms | German Medical Science

Joint German Congress of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery

02. - 06.10.2006, Berlin

Microvasculatory reaction of skeletal muscle to Ti-15Mo in comparison to Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-7Nb

Meeting Abstract

  • P.H. Pennekamp - Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
  • M.A. Wimmer - Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush-University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
  • L. Eschbach - Grundlagen/Angewandte Forschung, Robert Mathys Stiftung, Bettlach, Switzerland
  • B. Burian - Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
  • L.V. von Engelhardt - Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
  • C.N. Kraft - Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

Deutscher Kongress für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie. 70. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie, 92. Tagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie und 47. Tagung des Berufsverbandes der Fachärzte für Orthopädie. Berlin, 02.-06.10.2006. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2006. DocE.3.1-1202

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dgu2006/06dgu0082.shtml

Published: September 28, 2006

© 2006 Pennekamp et al.
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Outline

Text

Introduction: Beta-titanium alloys such as Ti-15Mo are increasingly utilized for orthopaedic implant applications because of their excellent corrosion resistance and low elastic modulus. Particularly in osteosynthesis, where the biomaterial stands in direct contact to soft tissue, undesirable biologic reactions may have severe consequences especially in the vulnerable state of trauma and added iatrogenic damage to the microvascular system. In a comparative study we therefore assessed in vivo nutritive perfusion and leukocytic response of striated muscle to the biomaterials Ti-15Mo, Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-7Nb, thereby drawing conclusions on their short term inflammatory potential.

Methods: 4 mm2 large samples with a thickness of 0.5 mm of either Ti-15Mo (ASTM F 2066), Ti-6Al-4V (ASTM F 136) and Ti-6Al-7Nb (ASTM F 1295)were used. In 28 hamsters, utilizing the dorsal skinfold chamber preparation and intravital microscopy, we quantified primary and secondary leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction, leukocyte extravasation, microvascular diameter change and capillary perfusion in collecting and postcapillary venules of skeletal muscle.

Results: We could not demonstrate any significant discrepancies between the three alloys. All metals induced an initial moderate inflammatory response in skeletal muscle microcirculation. While recuperation of animals treated with Ti-15Mo and Ti-6Al-7Nb was prompt, we documented a slightly more sluggish recovery of Ti-6Al-4V treated animals. A gross toxicity was not observed for any of the alloys.

Conclusion: Conclusively, Ti-15Mo, Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-7Nb induce an only transient inflammatory answer of the striated muscle microvascular system. Our results indicate that on the microvascular level the tested bulk Ti-alloys do not cause enduring biologic impairment in muscle.