ABSTRACT
Orthopaedic surgeons have being fixing bones with metal for many years. The technique was being used in 1775 and Lane in 1894 was using steel, which minimised tissue reaction. Always the worry of infection has been present when foreign matter is introduced, but for the last 30 years it has been realised that in addition there is a risk of electrolytic corrosion, leading to a belief that in general metal should be removed where possible.
