Implant safety is a topic gaining more and more public interest. Implants are safety relevant medical devices which in the case of failure can lead to life-threatening situations.
A well-founded failure analysis requires expert knowledge not only of materials and implant design but also a qualified explantation procedure and storage conditions.
A selective literature search was carried out putting the main emphasis on implant failure analysis supplemented with own investigations.
The reasons for implant breakdown are mostly failures of materials and in the manufacturing process. In some cases false material combinations can lead to tribocorrosion effects under cyclic loading.
The increased level of knowledge gained from complex analyses of failed implants produces valuable evidence for better quality management.