Long-term silicone implant arthroplasty. Implications of animal and human autopsy findings
R. M. Nalbandian, A. B. Swanson and B. K. Maupin
An examination of host tissue response to implanted material has been
conducted as part of a comprehensive research program to study low-modulus
of elasticity silicone implants for small-joint arthroplasty. This was
performed on animals and in a long-term human clinical evaluation. Autopsy
material on three dogs was obtained more than ten years after silicone
implants were placed in their limbs, and in one human arthritic patient it
was obtained 12 years after hand reconstruction with implants. The benign
nature of the tissue reaction to the implant material is noted. It is
compared with other implant materials and discussed in terms of host tissue
reactions that may occur in joint replacement procedures.
