Radiography Study of Iron-Based Foreign Body Material Degradation at Different Implantation Site in Mice

Foreign body materials enter human body through ingestion, insertion, or deposited by injury and may migrate from the entry site causing inflammation, abscess formation or undergo distant embolization. The aim of this study was to observe the degradation process of iron-based foreign body materials in different site of implantation through radiography approach. Forty two adult male ddy mice were used and iron-based implants were inserted into nape area, subcutaneously and into right femoral muscle using trocar, aseptically. The implants consisted of iron, chromium(Cr)-coated iron and stainless steel surgical wire (SS316L). Serial radiography was performed at day-1, 4 and 14 after implantation. The gray value of material density were then measured at 4 points : 2 points on both end and 2 points on the middle of the implants by using plot profile module in ImageJ® software. Results showed that the radiodensity of the implants from each group in both implantation site was increased at day-4 and materials’ radiodensity implanted subcutaneously showed higher gray value especially at peri-implant site along the side of the implant than those which implanted intramuscularly. Discussion on the degradation process and radiographic measurement is detailed in the manuscript.