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ABSTRACT
Metallic prostheses are widely used in orthopaedic surgery. The degradation of these implants can induce metallic element transfers into biological tissues. The aim of this study is to determine concentration of metallic elements and to follow their migration from the prosthesis to the adjacent tissues. In order to quantify this phenomenon, we use PIXE method. Its feasibility is established. The samples were taken during surgical orthopaedic procedures performed on patients who have implants for a long time with or without adverse reactions. Analysed tissues were taken at the contact of the implants. We have used a Van de Graaff accelerator and the analyses have been made at the CENBG (Centre d’Etude Nucléaire de Bordeaux Gradignan). The experiment allows us to study the quantification of the contamination and the migration through tissues. We have scanned and obtained cartographies of the analysed surfaces which can show the correlation, between the location of different kind of elements in these samples. The difference of concentration in metallic elements between a reference sample and tissue at the contact of implant can be observed. The contamination is heterogeneous and depends on the state and type of the prostheses. We must consider the pathology of the patient which can induce some modifications in tissular behaviour and explain the reactivity of these elements in biological environment.