Does metal porosity affect metal ion release in blood and urine following total hip arthroplasty? A short term study
Bistolfi, A., Cimino, A., Lee, G.-C., Ferracini, R., Maina, G., Berchialla, P., … Massè, A. (2018).Hip
Introduction:
The surface area of exposed metal in a trabecular-titanium acetabular component is wider compared to traditional-titanium implants. The purpose of this study is to establish if this increase in surface area can lead to a significant increase in systemic metal levels.
Methods:
19 patients with conventional acetabular component and 19 with trabecular-titanium cup were compared. Aluminum, Vanadium and Titanium in blood and urine were assessed before surgery and at intervals for 2 years. The samples were analysed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
Results:
Patients with trabecular-titanium did not have significantly higher metal ion levels compared to patients with conventional cups up to 2 years. A trend over time was statistically significant in both blood and urine for aluminum and titanium concentrations.
Conclusions:
The three-dimensionality and the wide surface of the trabecular-titanium acetabular component did not affect metal ion release compared to traditional implants after 2 years.
Link to article