Journal of Functional Biomaterials
Safety and Preliminary Clinical Outcomes of Silver Ion-Doped Calcium Phosphate-Coated Orthopedic Implants: A Prospective Pilot Study
By Hünkar Çağdaş Bayrak, Bünyamin Yücel, Ayse Aydan Köse and 3 others.
Abstract
Background
Implant-related infections remain a major cause of failure in orthopedic surgery, partly because biofilm formation on implant surfaces limits conventional infection-control strategies. This prospective pilot study evaluated the short-term safety and preliminary anti-infective performance of silver ion-doped calcium phosphate-coated orthopedic implants.
Methods
Thirty patients undergoing surgery for lower-extremity fractures received 107 coated implants, including 91 external fixator pins in 14 patients, 10 proximal femoral nails, and 6 partial hip arthroplasty. The primary endpoint was pin-tract infection, while secondary endpoints included liver and kidney function, inflammatory markers, and serum silver concentrations.