Aços inoxidáveis em implantes ortopédicos: fundamentos e resistência à corrosäo / Stainless steels in orthopedic implants: fundaments and corrosion resistance

The use of metals and alloys, in medicine, specially in surgery, has increased since the development of septic surgical techniques, the employment of anesthesia, and the substitution of blood and human fluid. The need to improve the properties of orthopedic implant materials has become important due to several failures that have been reported. These failures are related to biocompatibility, mechanical resistance, and corrosion. The aim of this study is to describe stainless steels (kinds, properties, applications in orthopedic surgery) as well as to present the general aspects of metallic corrosion that can be found when these materials are used in orthopedic implants