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. 2013 Sep;47(5):454-8.
doi: 10.4103/0019-5413.118200.

Results of titanium locking plate and stainless steel cerclage wire combination in femoral fractures

Bilal Farouk El-Zayat  1 , Steffen Ruchholtz, Turgay Efe, Jürgen Paletta, Dimitri Kreslo, Ralph Zettl
Affiliations

Results of titanium locking plate and stainless steel cerclage wire combination in femoral fractures

Bilal Farouk El-Zayat et al. Indian J Orthop. 2013 Sep.

Abstract

Background: Some in vitro studies warn combining different metals in orthopedic surgery. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of combining titanium and stainless steel on bone healing and the clinical course of patients undergoing internal fixation of femoral fractures.

Materials and methods: 69 patients with femoral fractures had polyaxial locking plate osteosynthesis. The locking plate was made of a titanium alloy. Two different cohorts were defined: (a) sole plating and (b) additional stainless steel cerclage wiring. Postoperative radiographs and clinical followup were performed at 6 weeks, 3 months and 12 months.

Results: Cohorts A and B had 36 and 33 patients, respectively. Patient demographics and comorbidities were similar in both groups. In two cases in cohort A, surgical revision was necessary. No complication could be attributed to the combination of titanium and stainless steel.

Conclusion: The combination of stainless steel cerclage wires and titanium plates does not compromise fracture healing or the postoperative clinical course.

Keywords: Cerclage wire; fracture healing; galvanic corrosion; locking plate; stainless steel; titanium.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Anteroposterior and (b) lateral view showing Rorabeck Type 2 periprosthetic fracture, (c,d) Postoperative anteroposterior and lateral view showing reduction in minimal invasive technique with NCB
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) postoperative anteroposterior and (b) lateral view showing a Rorabeck type 2 spiral fracture fixed with “mini-open”-technique with cerclage wires and NCB
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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