Removal Torque of Osseointegrated Craniofacial Implants: A Clinical Study

Ten commercially pure titanium implants were inserted in the mastoid region of the human temporal bone in ten human volunteers and removed by using a torque gauge instrument 3 to 4 months thereafter. The average removal torque of nine implants was 42.7 Ncm with a range of 26 to 60 Ncm. One implant used for histology revealed evidence of bony as well as soft tissue in the interfacial region. Keywords: clinical, osseointegration, removal torque, titanium implant