Material Science: Titanium, Cobalt, and the Quest for Biocompatibility
The choice of material for a fracture fixation device is a delicate balance of strength, flexibility, and biological "friendliness." While stainless steel was the gold standard for decades due to its strength and low cost, Titanium and its alloys (like Ti-6Al-4V) have taken over as the preferred material in 2025. Titanium is lighter, more flexible (closer to the "modulus" of bone), and offers superior biocompatibility, significantly reducing the risk of "metal sensitivity" or rejection....