Serum metal levels and bearing surfaces in total hip arthroplasty.
This study evaluates steady-state serum metal levels in patients with 4 different combinations of fixation modalities, materials, and bearing couples. Forty patients with a minimum of 5 years of follow-up and with well-functioning primary total hip arthroplasty were recruited to have serum metal levels measured. Serum chromium and cobalt levels in the metal-on-metal cohort were significantly higher (P < .05) than the other 3 cohorts. The noncemented ceramic-polyethylene cohort had significantly lower (P < .05) serum chromium levels compared to cemented and noncemented metal-polyethylene cohorts and significantly higher serum titanium levels compared to the cemented metal-polyethylene cohort which had no titanium-containing implants. Debris generated at the metal head/neck modular junction likely accounts for the significantly lower serum chromium concentration in ceramic-polyethylene bearing couples.
Rasquinha
Vijay J
VJ
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, New York, USA.
Ranawat
Chitranjan S
CS
Weiskopf
Joanne
J
Rodriguez
Jose A
JA
Skipor
Anastasia K
AK
Jacobs
Joshua J
JJ
D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002516:Ceramics; D002857:Chromium / Q000097:blood*; D003035:Cobalt / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D014025:Titanium / Q000097:blood*
D002857:Chromium; D003035:Cobalt; D014025:Titanium