Realizing the significance of the problem, an attempt is made to analyse the causes of failure of a surgical implant with reference to its use and function that any implant must be biologically acceptable and mechanically capable of carrying the work required of it. Familiar of which are the different modes of corrosion failure together with mechanical and biological failure. Keeping in view the requirements of an implant material, the intention of this paper is to review and discuss the development of suitable materials for implants in orthopaedic surgery, to define the present uses of the implants and to discuss the problems encountered in their use.