Orthopaedic titanium implants offer several advantages over stainless steel implants:
1. Biocompatibility: Titanium is highly biocompatible, meaning it is less likely to cause adverse reactions in the body. It integrates well with bone, promoting better osseointegration, which is the direct structural and functional connection between living bone and the surface of a load-bearing implant.
2. Corrosion Resistance: Titanium is highly resistant to corrosion from bodily fluids, ensuring longevity and reducing the risk of implant degradation and potential complications.
3. Strength-to-Weight Ratio: Titanium has a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it strong enough to support loads while being lighter than stainless steel. This can enhance patient comfort and reduce stress on the surrounding bone and tissue.
4. Elastic Modulus: Titanium has an elastic modulus closer to that of bone compared to stainless steel. This helps in reducing stress shielding, where the difference in stiffness between the bone and the implant can lead to bone resorption and weakening.
5. Fatigue Resistance: Titanium has excellent fatigue resistance, which means it can withstand repeated stresses over time without failing, making it suitable for long-term implants that are subjected to continuous load-bearing activities.
6. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Compatibility: Titanium is non-ferromagnetic, making it safer for patients undergoing MRI scans. Stainless steel implants, especially those containing iron, can pose risks during MRI due to potential movement or heating.
Overall, these advantages make titanium a preferred choice for many orthopaedic implants, despite its higher cost compared to stainless steel.
