The mechanical aspect of titanium ion release after posterior instrumentation for early onset scoliosis

Surgical treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS) is connected with the risk of early and late complications. The aim of the study is to assess influence of the rod fracture on the titanium ion release (TIR) in traditional growing rods instrumentation for EOS.56 patients treated surgically due to EOS were divided into three groups: 1) a control-patients newly operated due to scoliosis, patients treated with the traditional growing rod (TGR) and TGR who had rod fracture (FGR) and required a surgical revision. Titanium quantification in blood sample, skin fragment (CT –clean tissue) andmacrosco-pically contaminated tissue located near the implant (DT –dirty tissue) was performed using high-resolution emission spectrometry with excitation in inductively coupled plasma.The mean serum titanium level in control, TGR, and FGR groups were 1.93 ± 0.8, 5.61 ± 0.23, and 4.43 ± 0.1 μg/dm³, respectively. The mean CT titanium level in control, TGR, and FGR groups were 0.0045 ± 0.001, 0.0035 ± 0.001and 0.0065 ± 6.8 mg/g, respectively. The mean DT titanium level in TGR and FGR groups was 0.59 ± 0.02, and 1.022 ± 0.03 mg/g, respectively.Implant leadsto the TIR into tissues and blood. Increasing the number of anchors increases the titanium content inthe CT TGR group. Mechanical damage to the implant has no significant effect on the increase of TIR