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. 2019 Sep 30;12(19):3205.
doi: 10.3390/ma12193205.

Histological Change in Soft Tissue Surrounding Titanium Plates after Jaw Surgery

Gabriel Armencea  1 , Dan Gheban  2 , Florin Onisor  3 , Ileana Mitre  4 , Avram Manea  5 , Veronica Trombitas  6 , Madalina Lazar  7 , Grigore Baciut  8 , Mihaela Baciut  9 , Simion Bran  10
Affiliations

Histological Change in Soft Tissue Surrounding Titanium Plates after Jaw Surgery

Gabriel Armencea et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the microscopic structure of soft tissue covering titanium plates and screws used in jaw surgery (mandible fracture and orthognathic surgery), after a minimum period of 12 months from insertion, and to quantify the presence of any metallic particles. Periosteum covering the osteosynthesis plates was removed from 20 patients and examined by light microscopy in order to assess the cell morphological changes and the possibility of metal particles presence in the soft tissue. Local signs of tissue toxicity or inflammation were taken into consideration when evaluating the routine removal of titanium maxillofacial miniplates. No signs of screw loosening or acute inflammation were detected on the osteosynthesis site, but de-coloration of the periosteum was seen, and metallic particles were observed to have migrated into the soft tissues. Even if the titanium is well-tolerated by the human body in time, without severe local or general complications, our findings suggest that plate removal should be considered after bone healing has occurred.

Keywords: Ti particles; implants; miniplates; osteosynthesis; titanium.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Morphometric analysis of debris particles in ImageJ software.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Measurement calibration in ImageJ with a micrometric grid.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Large debris (red arrow), near a cluster of small particles (blue arrow). HE stain ×400.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Dust-like (1 micron) particles—blue arrow. HE stain ×400.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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