title: Metal sensitivity in patients with a hinge arthroplasty of the knee.
abstract: Fifty patients who had received a hinge arthroplasty of the knee were investigated for possible metal sensitivity. Patients were patch tested against all the metal constituents of the prosthesis. Positive patch tests were found in 32% of patients. Seventeen patients had either lossening or a persistent sterile discharge from the knee. No correlation was found between these complications and metal sensitivity. It was concluded that metal sensitivity is probably not a primary factor in the pathogenesis of complications, particularly loosening.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D008670:Metals