Evaluation of Prosthetic Implant Degradation

Metal-on-Metal Wear-Induced Tissue Necrosis

December 2011

Several key points need to be made at this stage in this discussion. As compared to serum from humans with no implants, all patients with metal-on-metal implants have modestly elevated serum chromium and cobalt concentrations. In most patients with metal-on-metal implants, serum-chromium and cobalt are approximately 10 times elevated as compared to serum concentrations found in unexposed individuals. Significantly elevated serum chromium and cobalt concentrations correlate with implant wear. Clinically important implant wear is indicated when serum chromium exceeds 15 ng/mL and cobalt exceeds 10 ng/mL.

< Previous Slide

Metal-on-Metal Wear-Induced Tissue Necrosis

Next Slide >

 

Jump to section:

• Introduction
• Orthopedic Prostheses
• Background
• Patient Workup
• Issues of Concern
• Metal-on-Metal Wear-Induced Tissue Necrosis
• Metal-on-Metal Wear-Induced Tissue Necrosis
• Effect of Metallosis
• Initial Conclusions
• Interpretive Values
• Are These Concentrations Toxic?
• Are These Concentrations Toxic?
• Specimen Collection
• Metal-Free Blood Tubes
• Summary
• References/Additional Reading
• Questions?
• Disclosure (Dr. Sierra)
• Disclosure (Dr. Moyer)