title: Serum metal levels and bearing surfaces in total hip arthroplasty.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Vijay J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Rasquinha
authors.forename: Chitranjan S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ranawat
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weiskopf
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Anastasia K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Skipor
authors.forename: Joshua J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D002857:Chromium; D003035:Cobalt; D014025:Titanium