A High Prevalence of Corrosion at the Head-Neck Taper with Contemporary Zimmer Non-Cemented Femoral Hip Components.
Mechanically assisted crevice corrosion (MACC) occurs at metal/metal modular junctions in which at least one of the components is fabricated from cobalt-chromium alloy and may lead to adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR) in patients with metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) total hip arthroplasty. This type of reaction has been previously described in hips with head/neck modularity, but the prevalence is unknown. We found a prevalence of 1.1 percent in a consecutive series of 1356 contemporary Zimmer non-cemented femoral hip components followed for a minimum of 2years. The average time to presentation was 3.7years (range, 9-105months); delay in treatment led to irreversible soft tissue damage in three patients. We recommend usage of ceramic heads until this problem is further understood.
Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Maine Joint Replacement Institute, Portland, Maine; Maine Medical Center Division of Joint Replacements, Falmouth, Maine. Electronic address: mcgrob1@mmc.org.
Brian J
BJ
McGrory
Maine Medical Center Division of Joint Replacements, Falmouth, Maine.
Johanna
J
MacKenzie
Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Maine Joint Replacement Institute, Portland, Maine; Maine Medical Center Division of Joint Replacements, Falmouth, Maine.
George
G
Babikian
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002516:Ceramics; D002857:Chromium / Q000737:chemistry*; D002858:Chromium Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D003035:Cobalt / Q000737:chemistry*; D003343:Corrosion; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000737:chemistry*; D015995:Prevalence; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D002858:Chromium Alloys; D002857:Chromium; D003035:Cobalt; D020959:Polyethylene
THA; adverse local tissue reaction; failure; hip; metal-on-polymer