Chemical cleaning of titanium tray for reconstructive surgery

Abstract

Aims: To find out the extent of chemical contamination on the surface of titanium wrought mesh before and after swaging, and to assess the effectiveness of cleaning off these contaminants by various chemical methods. Materials and methods: Qualitative analysis of the surfaces of 6 wrought titanium meshes by scanning electron microscopy (EM) and radiological microanalyser. One of these meshes was subjected to experimental cleaning by different methods. Qualitative chemical analysis of 20 titanium trays fabricated for clinical use before and after acid cleansing. Results: All 6 titanium meshes had surface contaminants, with silicon being the most common. The effective cleaning methods were chemical cleaning with Titaclean, mechanical trimming, or polishing with diamond paste. The 20 swaged titanium trays were effectively cleaned with either Titaclean or Chemi-Polish solution. Conclusion: Previously unknown surface contamination was common on wrought titanium mesh. Ultrasonic cleansing with Titaclean or Chemi- Polish effectively removed most of the contaminants on the titanium trays before they were implanted.