Evaluation of Prosthetic Implant Degradation

Summary

December 2011

In summary, serum chromium and cobalt are elevated in all patients with metal-on-metal orthopedic implants as compared to unexposed individuals. Serum concentrations increase with implant duration, even in patients with no significant implant wear. The degree of elevation of serum chromium and cobalt correlates with metal-on-metal orthopedic implant deterioration. Elevated serum chromium and cobalt in the absence of symptoms such as joint pain or unsteady gait do not, independently, indicate implant wear. And, proper specimen collection is essential for successful evaluation.

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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)