Local effect of titanium implant corrosion: An experimental study in rats

D.G. OLMEDO; G. DUFFO; R.L. CABRINI; M.B. GUGLIELMOTTI

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

Elsevier

Año: 2008 vol. 37 p. 1032 - 1038

0901-5027

The aim of this study was to evaluate histologically the biological effect of pitting corrosion and to contribute clinically relevant data on the permanence of titanium metal structures used in osteosynthesis in the body. Commercially pure titanium laminar implants (control) and commercially pure titanium laminar implants with pitting corrosion (experimental) were implanted in the tibiae of rats. At 14 days post-implantation the animals were killed. The tibiae were resected, fixed, radiographed and processed for embedding in methyl methacrylate. Percentage of bone-implant contact and peri-implant bone volume were evaluated. The histological study of the titanium implants submitted to pitting corrosion showed scarce bone-implant contact, it was only present in the areas with no pitting and/or surface alterations. There was a statistically significant lower percentage of bone-implant contact in the experimental group (6%+/-4) than in the control group (26%+/-6) (p