Statistical and failure analyses of orthopedic implants used in Turkey

Abstract

Recent advances in science and technology havegreatly improved both the design and efficiency oforthopedic implants thereby widening their use. Thisthesis aims both to determine the use of different typesof implants in Turkey and to analyze the causes ofpostoperative deformations in the implants.The first part of the thesis presents the resultsof a survey designed to determine the types of implantmaterials and the frequency that hip and knee prosthesesand osteosynthesis materials were used in the operationsperformed at the orthopedics clinics throughout Turkey in1991. Responses received fr'om a total number of 102orthopedics clinics also demonstrate the causes and theincidence rates of deformations that most fl-equentlyoccured in the implants used by these clinics.The experimental study presented in the second partof the thesis makes use of 24 implant materials that wereobtained fr'om the orthopedics cl inics of Istanbul HedicalFactll ty and Cerrahpasa Medical Facul ty. These implants hadpreviously been removed from patients's bodies because ofreasons identified as healing, fractures and loosening.Macroscopic, microscopic and metallurgical analyses wereundertaken to unravel the structure and the causes ofdeformations that occured in the implants.