Premature Failure in Orthopedic Implants: Analysis of Three Different Cases

Abstract

The increasing lifetime of the population on a world-wide scale over the last decades has led to a significant growth in the use of surgical implants for replacement of bones and teeth in affected patients. Other factors, such as scientific-technological development and more frequent exposure of individuals to trauma risk, have also contributed to this general trend. Metallic materials designed for applications in surgical implants, no matter whether orthopedic or dental, must show a group of properties in which biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and resistance to degradation (by wear or corrosion) are of primary importance. In order to reach these aims, orthopedic materials must fulfill certain requirements, usually specified in standards. These requirements include chemical composition, microstructure, and even macrographic appearances. In the present work, three cases of implant failure are presented. These cases demonstrate the most frequent causes of premature failure in orthopedic implants: inadequate surgical procedures and processing/ design errors. Evaluation techniques, including optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were used to evaluate macroscopic and microstructural aspects of the failed implants, and the chemical composition of each material was analyzed. These evaluations showed that design errors and improper surgical procedures of outright violation of standards were the cause of the failures.

Utilização Da Lógica Paraconsistente Anotada (Lpa) No Controle De Bombas De Sangue De Fluxo Contínuo

“…O crescimento da população e da expectativa de vida levou ao aumento do número de pessoas afetadas por acidentes ou doenças. Como consequência, houve um aumento significativo no uso e na demanda de implantes cirúrgicos para a substituição ou reparação de ossos ou dentes (BARBOSA et. al, 2009).…”

Avaliação do efeito de deformação plástica na dureza, microestrutura e propriedades magnéticas de um aço inoxidável AISI 316L

“…O surgimento da martensita diminui a resistência à corrosão e torna o aço ferromagnético. Essas características são comprometedoras para aplicações do aço como biomaterial metálico [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19].…”