[Contact allergy to metals and bone cement components in patients with intolerance of arthroplasty].
BACKGROUND
Complications in arthroplasty are mostly attributed to wear particle related loosening, infections or mechanical failure. There is no investigation in a large patient series giving data about the frequency of allergic reactions to metals or bone cement components in arthroplasty with complications.


METHODS
In 92 patients with cemented hip or knee arthroplasty (66 patients with complications, 26 without symptoms) patch testing and medical history were evaluated. Contact allergy rates to metals and potential bone cement components were analyzed as well as type of complaints and allergy history.


RESULTS
Main complaints were pain (81.8%), reduced range of motion (54.5%) and local swelling (56.1%). Contact allergy to nickel was shown in 16/66 patients (24.2%), 6.1% were allergic to cobalt and 3.0% to chromium. 21/66 patients (31.8%) showed an allergic reaction to bone cement components (gentamicin 23.8%, benzoyl peroxide 10.6%, hydroquinone 4.5%). Sensitization rates in patients without symptoms were 3.8% to nickel as well as to cobalt and chromium, and 15.4% to gentamicin.


CONCLUSIONS
Contact allergy rates to metals and potential bone cement components are higher in arthroplasty patients with complications than in the general population.
Eben
R
R
Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Ricarda.Eben@med.uni-muenchen.de
Dietrich
K-A
KA
Nerz
C
C
Schneider
S
S
Schuh
A
A
Banke
I J
IJ
Mazoochian
F
F
Thomas
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002857:Chromium / Q000009:adverse effects; D003035:Cobalt / Q000009:adverse effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000009:adverse effects; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000009:adverse effects; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects; D010328:Patch Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure
D001843:Bone Cements; D005839:Gentamicins; D006873:Hydroquinones; D008670:Metals; D002857:Chromium; D003035:Cobalt; D009532:Nickel; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide; C031927:hydroquinone