[Can steel screws be combined with titanium plates? Hard polishing technique and SEM in animal experiments]

To clarify the compatibility of steel and titanium, mandibular resections were performed on 24 sheep and the defects bridged with titanium plates and steel vs. titanium screws. 6, 12 and 24 weeks after osteosynthesis the implants were removed along with the surrounding bone segment and thin ground sections were prepared using the Donath method. The sections were then studied by light, fluorescence, polarization and scanning electron microscopy. The stability and easy removal are advantages of steel screws rendering them particularly suitable for temporary implantations. Moreover, they are 50-75% less expensive than titanium screws. After 3 and 6 months some minimum friction corrosion was observed at the screw/plate interface of steel screws. None of the specimens, however, showed signs of local tissue damage such as metallosis. From this it may be concluded that at least on a temporary basis a combination of steel screws and titanium plantes seems to be possible.