Long-term reaction of the osseous bed around silicone implants

Between 1970 and 1987, 94 patients received 208 silicone implants at the Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital, Vienna. Of these, 62.5% were clinically followed up. At follow-up after an average of 116 months, the implant bed was found to be intact in only 41% of cases; in all others we observed lyses around the implant and cysts even in bones at a distance from the operated joint. Histological findings obtained from revision arthroplasty showed a homogeneous picture with foreign-body granulation tissue. These changes were usually clinically inconspicuous and had little effect on patients' subjective well-being. Despite the low discomfort caused, however, the use of such implants in only recommended in critical and severe causes because of the progressive destruction of the osseous bed during the time the implant is in the body.