THE USE OF GROMMETS FOR FLEXIBLE HINGE TOE IMPLANTS - A CASE-REPORT

The postmortem examination of bilateral first metatarsophalangeal flex ible hinge toe implants in a 66-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthrit is is reported, The prosthesis had been inserted with grommets in 1 jo int and without grommets in the other 2.5 years before her death, The implants were removed, and the bone/implant interfaces were examined m icroscopically by hematoxylin eosin stains and an electron probe micro analyzer. Surfaces of the implants were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Silicone particles within the fibrous tissue at the bone/i mplant interface, and a tear and significant scuffing of the implant s urface, were detected in the joint without grommets. Such changes were not detected in the joint with grommets, These findings suggest that grommets may improve implant durability and preventing silicone synovi tis.