Systemic titanium levels in rabbits with a titanium implant in the absence of wear

All non-noble metals and alloys will release metallic species into the body. This raises the issue of amount and fate, i.e. transport and storage, of these metal dissolution products. For titanium, the nature and extent of these systemic effects remain mostly unknown. In this study we investigated titanium levels in alleged target tissues in rabbits, both with and without a titanium implant functioning in the absence of wear, and compare these results to the limited body of literature concerning systemic levels of titanium. Titanium fibre felts were implanted into the tibia of rabbits. At various time points, lung, spleen, and muscle samples were collected from these rabbits as well as two groups of control rabbits. The samples were analysed for titanium concentration using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The data for the implant groups show that titanium levels in these tissues do not increase in comparison with controls up to 1 y after implantation.