Osteotome Surgical Tool Failure  

Metallurgical failure analysis and manufacturer verification were requested after an osteotome surgical tool failure. The tool was believed to have failed during surgery, leaving a metal fragment in the patient.  The failure analysis focused on determining the exact chemical composition of the osteotome in order to determine how the osteotome was manufactured and verify that it was manufactured by the client.  Dimensional analysis proved that the fragment was not manufactured by the client surgical tool manufacturer.

Photograph A: Close-up view of failed osteotome surgical tools.