LOCAL TISSUE OF THE LUMBAR SPINE RESPONSE TO TITANIUM PLATE-SCREW SYSTEM - CASE-REPORTS

Study Design. This study reported the histopathologic findings of peri -implant tissue harvested from two patients with titanium plate-screw fixation in the lumbar spine. Objectives. To describe and discuss the histopathologic findings with regard to local tissue response to the t itanium plate-screw system in the lumbar spine. Summary of Background Data. There are no reports about local tissue of the lumbar spine resp onse to titanium plate-screw system in the literature. Methods. Two pa tients who underwent titanium plate-screw fixation in the lumbar spine were evaluated for this study. Histopathologic evaluation of the spec imens from these cases included soft tissue, bone, and cartilage from the areas around the screws and plates. Results. The primary histopath ologic changes of tile two cases included fibrous scarring, accumulati on of metallic debris, both free in the fibrous tissue and within macr ophages, and mild histiocytic and epithelioid changes. Conclusions. Th e histopathologic findings of the two cases presented resulted in loca l tissue response of the lumbar spine to titanium similar to tissue re sponse in other previously reported cases.