Are titanium plates safe?
Background. Titanium is a commonly used inert bio-implant material within the medical and dental fields. Although the use of titanium is thought to be safe with a high success rate, in some cases, there are rare reports of problems caused by titanium.
Why do surgeons use titanium?
One of the biggest advantages to titanium is its strength – titanium retains as much strength as steel and is exceptionally lighter in weight (approximately 50% lighter), making this material ideal for its use as surgical implants.
Does titanium fuse with bone?
As mentioned earlier, titanium has the ability to fuse together with living bone. This property makes it a huge benefit in the world of dentistry. Titanium dental implants have become the most widely accepted and successfully used type of implant due to its propensity to osseointegrate.
Does titanium break down in the body?
Titanium is considered the most biocompatible metal – not harmful or toxic to living tissue – due to its resistance to corrosion from bodily fluids. This ability to withstand the harsh bodily environment is a result of the protective oxide film that forms naturally in the presence of oxygen.
Does titanium fuse to bone?
What are the side effects of having titanium in your body?
It is not considered a toxic metal but it is a heavy metal and it does have serious negative health effects. Titanium has the ability to affect lung function causing lung diseases such as pleural disease, it can cause chest pain with tightness, breathing difficulties, coughing, irritation of the skin or eyes.
Why are titanium plates used for distal radius fractures?
In particular, Dr. Dennison zeroes in on titanium volar plates used to treat distal radius fractures. Titanium has replaced stainless steel these days for fixation devices. It is more compatible with the human biology, which means it’s less likely to cause a reaction. When an inflammatory response does occur, it is mild and limited (doesn’t last).
Where are titanium plates placed in the body?
Titanium can also be combined with other metals such as cobalt, chromium, and molybdenum to create a lighter but more durable material. Volar plates refer to the location of fixation devices — placed on the front or inside of the forearm. Radius fracture tells us the radial bone in the forearm is broken.
How long do titanium plates last after removal?
But it can take a year or more after removal to bring these elevated levels back down to normal. Dr. Dennison reports that there aren’t specific studies of the effects of titanium plates (prolonged use or removal) from the treatment of distal volar radial fractures.
Are there any risks with using titanium plates?
There is a worry that this effect could cause implant loosening or failure, though it hasn’t been proven yet. Another potential problem with titanium plates is the debris that occurs. Tiny flakes of this metal chip off and enter the bloodstream, nearby soft tissues, and/or joint.