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Do Ion Levels in Metal-on-metal Hip Resurfacing Differ From Those in Metal-on-metal THA at Long-term Followup?

  • Clinical Research
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Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

Background

Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty (MOM HR) has become an established alternative to traditional metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty (MOM THA) for younger, more active patients. Nevertheless, concerns remain regarding wear and corrosion of the bearing surfaces and the resulting systemic metal ion distribution.

Questions/purposes

We therefore asked whether (1) serum ion concentrations in patients with MOM HR at the time of long-term followup were higher than concentrations in a control population with no hip implants; (2) the ion concentrations in patients with MOM HR were different from those in patients with MOM THA; and (3) sex would influence ion levels with regard to implant type.

Methods

The MOM HR and MOM THA groups consisted of 25 patients (evaluated at a minimum of 96 months) and 16 patients (evaluated at a minimum of 106 months), respectively. Forty-eight healthy donors were recruited for reference values. Cobalt, chromium, nickel, and molybdenum were measured by furnace graphite atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Results

Ion concentrations of cobalt, chromium, and molybdenum in MOM HR were higher than in controls. Chromium and cobalt release were higher in MOM HR than in MOM THA. The sex-based analysis showed the difference was because women had higher concentrations in the MOM HR group than in the MOM THA group, whereas there was no difference between the men in the two groups.

Conclusions

In MOM HR, high metal ion release persists for the long term. Consequently, it is important to implement strict biomonitoring for patients who have received these implants. The sustained high levels of chromium in females within the MOM HR group are concerning and merits strong consideration when choosing implants in this patient group.

Level of Evidence

Level III, therapeutic study. See the Instructions for Authors online for a complete description of level of evidence.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Orthopaedic Pathophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Via di Barbiano 1/10, 40136, Bologna, Italy

    Lucia Savarino BSc & Nicola Baldini MD

  2. Department I of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna, Italy

    Matteo Cadossi MD, Eugenio Chiarello MD & Sandro Giannini MD

  3. Bologna University, Bologna, Italy

    Nicola Baldini MD & Sandro Giannini MD

Authors
  1. Lucia Savarino BSc
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  2. Matteo Cadossi MD
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  3. Eugenio Chiarello MD
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  4. Nicola Baldini MD
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  5. Sandro Giannini MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lucia Savarino BSc.

Additional information

The institution of one or more of the authors (LS, NB) has received, during the study period, funding from the Italian Ministry of the Health, Financial Support for Scientific Research “5 per mille” 2009.

All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request.

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research neither advocates nor endorses the use of any treatment, drug, or device. Readers are encouraged to always seek additional information, including FDA approval status, of any drug or device before clinical use.

Each author certifies that his or her institution approved the human protocol for this investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study was obtained.

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Savarino, L., Cadossi, M., Chiarello, E. et al. Do Ion Levels in Metal-on-metal Hip Resurfacing Differ From Those in Metal-on-metal THA at Long-term Followup?. Clin Orthop Relat Res 471, 2964–2971 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-013-2981-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-013-2981-z

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