Titanium Implants Used in Traumatology Failed Sometime in Clinical Practice: Case Study

Abstract:

Tibial fractures were, still are and will be a challenge for the orthopedic surgeon. In this paper we conducted a case study on a system plate-screw made by titanium that was used in clinical practice for reduction and fixation of a tibial pilon fracture. After eight months the patient returns for the ablation of metallic implants. Clinical and strengthen the fracture callus is found radiologic hypertrophic and degradation plaque.On retrieved plate were made following investigations in order to establish the causes that lead to the failure: determining the chemical composition through spectral analysis, macrostructural analysis using stereomicroscopy, microstructure analysis using optical microscope metallographic, and fractographic analysis using scanning electron microscopy. Complex analysis of the fracture surfaces of the locking plate has led to the ultimate conclusion that the material has been made self-locking plate is inadequate chemical purity satisfactory embedding, which has led to breakage within an area of ​​non-homogeneous structure. Breaking looks fragile behaviour by transgranular cleavage with sharp facets. There were also highlighted intergranular cracks between planes of cleavage sides.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 695)
• Pages: 128-132
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.695.128
• Online since: May 2016
• Authors: Marius Niculescu, Brandusa Ghiban*, Alexandru Ghiban, Gheorghe Dan
• Keywords: Failure Analysis, Implant, Microscopy, Microstructure, Titanium, Traumatology

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