We report a case of allergic reaction to metal after osteosynthesis by titanium implants. A 20-year-old man injured his right upper limb in a traffic accident. Ten days after the accident, internal titanium plate (Mathys's narrow LC-DCP plate) fixation of his humerus shaft fracture was performed and his radius and ulna shaft fracture were fixed by intramedullary nail (Century Medicals TRUE/FLEX rod system). Three months after the operation, redness, papules and erosion appeared around his right upper arm surgical wound. His condition did not improve, so he visited our hospital one and a half years after the operation asking for removal of the titanium implants.
In this case, he had no medical history of allergy. We removed the titanium implants and four months later, although there was still slight discoloration, redness and papules disappeared. There was also an increase in eosinophils, suggesting that his allergic reaction was caused by the titanium implants.
