Table 1

Summary of implant materials and their applications and characteristics.

MaterialYoung’s ModulusApplicationsProsCons
Ti6A14V110

  • Rods

  • Cages

  • Plates

  • Screws

  • Lightweight

  • Flexible

  • Alloys available

  • Relatively expensive

  • Imaging artifacts

Ti50.2
Co-Cr53.15

  • Rods

  • High corrective force for scoliosis

  • Risk of plastic deformation

  • Risk of PJK

  • High imaging artifacts

Stainless steel51.07

  • Rods

  • Inexpensive

  • High imaging artifacts

  • Corrosion

CFR PEEK17.94

  • Rods

  • Cages

  • Reduced imaging artifacts

  • Low Young’s modulus

Cancellous bone3.87

  • Abbreviations: CFR, carbon fiber reinforced; Co-Cr, cobalt chromium; PEEK, polyethylethylketone; PJK, proximal junctional kyphosis; Ti, titanium.