title: Can metal levels be used to monitor metal-on-metal hip arthroplasties?
abstract: In this review, the prospects for using blood, serum, and/or urine metal levels for monitoring the performance of metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty systems are explored. This approach does have substantial potential for serving this function; however, the methodology is technically challenging and the interpretation of the values requires an extensive database with correlative clinical information. At this time, it is premature to recommend metal concentration analysis on a routine clinical basis for patients with metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasties. Nonetheless, metal concentration analysis remains a powerful research tool in the evaluation of metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Anastasia K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Skipor
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Nadim J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Hallab
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.forename: Harlan C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Amstutz
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D014025:Titanium / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014025:Titanium