Massive wear of an incompatible metal-on-metal articulation in total hip arthroplasty

J Arthroplasty. 2004 Aug;19(5):638-42. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2003.12.076.

Abstract

We report on a case of massive wear because of an incompatible metal-on-metal combination. In a 62-year-old man, a cobalt-chromium (CoCr) inlay and a stainless steel head were paired by accident. Because of persistent pain, revision surgery was performed 7 months later. Histologic analysis of the surrounding tissue revealed massive metallosis. The wear volume was increased by a factor of 18 for the head and 2 for the cup compared with normal metal-on-metal articulation. The serum concentrations of chromium and cobalt were increased by a factor of 20 and 4 over levels of a healthy population, respectively. Incompatible metal-on-metal combinations should be revised immediately. In case of delayed diagnosis, no metal-on-metal articulation should be implanted because of the high volume of metal in the human body.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / instrumentation*
  • Chromium
  • Cobalt
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Foreign-Body Reaction / etiology*
  • Hip Prosthesis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Osteoarthritis, Hip / surgery
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Prosthesis Failure
  • Reoperation
  • Stainless Steel
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Chromium
  • Stainless Steel
  • Cobalt