Published on: 22nd November 2022

The research team from the RNOH Implant Science Centre delivered three podium talks and a poster presentation earlier this month at the annual meeting of the British Scoliosis Society (BSS), held in Edinburgh.

This research, led by Prof Alister Hart, focuses on understanding the performance of titanium alloy Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods (MCGRs) used in the surgical treatment of children with Early Onset Scoliosis (EOS). The team achieves this by analysing MCGRs that have been retrieved from patients after surgery and combining these engineering investigations with analysis of clinical and medical imaging data; this is used to identify the surgeon, implant and patient factors that impact the performance of these implants.

BSS Prize.jpgOne of the podium talks, presented by PhD student Martina Tognini, was awarded the BSS Prize of Best Scientific Oral Presentation out of the 40 talks presented. This described our research demonstrating that patients implanted with MCGRs, and 3D printed titanium hip implants, have greater levels of titanium ions in their blood, when compared to baseline levels previously published by our group. We are now building on this research to understand if these blood titanium measures can be used by surgeons to identify if their patients are developing implant related issues based on the level of titanium measured from blood tests.

Dr Harry Hothi, RNOH Implant Science Fellow, said: “Understanding the utility of blood titanium testing as a biomarker for implant function is of particular importance to enhance the post-market surveillance of devices such as MCGRs and 3D printed implants.”

The full peer reviewed publication is available to read for free: Blood titanium levels in patients with large and sliding titanium implants

More information about the Implant Science Centre.