STUDY OF EVALUATION OF VARIOUS CAUSES FOR IMPLANT FAILURE IN ORTHOPAEDIC TRAUMA PATIENTS

Abstract

Introduction: The success of an implant depends on various factors and it is vital
to assess whether implant failure was inherent to the device or occurred due to external
factors like lack of patient cooperation in post-operative care, improper application, or rate of
fracture healing. The removal of failed implants is expensive and imposes significant mental
hardship on the patient. Also, these revision surgeries are demanding, and time consuming.
Studies on implant failures in developing countries like India are less. Hence, we conducted
this study with an aim of knowing various factors responsible for the failure of implants used
in fracture fixation.
Materials and methods: The current study was conducted in the Department of
Orthopaedics, in a tertiary care hospital from October 2020 – September 2022 after getting
approval from Institutional Ethics Committee. Patients coming to an outpatient unit with
implant failure were taken as a study sample based on inclusion and exclusion criteria after
obtaining informed consent. Data collected in case record form analysed for causes of
implant failure.
Results: We studied 20 patients with implant failure, majority of the patients were males
(65%) and belonged to the age group 21 to 30 years. More common in obese and daily
labours. Most often seen in lower limb. Fatigue failure of implants is most common cause.
Conclusion: Proper education and adequate immobilisation in post-operative period, proper
use of implant with correct size, placement and adequate number of screws and early
aggressive use of bone grafting may avoid implant failure.