Limited need for screening of metal-on-metal hip resurfacing patients beyond 10 years of follow-up

National and international guidelines lack consistency on how to screen metal-on-metal (MoM) hip arthroplasty patients for adverse reactions to metal debris (ARMD). Long-term outcomes of MoM hip arthroplasty are scarce, hindering further development of such guidelines. We present the clinical, radiological and ARMD status of 158 cases of hip resurfacing with >10 years follow-up.

A prospective analysis of a cohort of 298 consecutive hip resurfacing procedures was performed at a single institution. All patients underwent MARS-MRI scanning for pseudotumour screening at least once, regardless of symptoms. Implant survival and reasons for revision were analysed for all patients. Clinical, radiological and MARS-MRI results were analysed for 158 unrevised procedures with >10 years follow-up.

The implant survival was 85.9% at 14.5 years (95% CI, 81.9–90.6) with revision for all causes as endpoint and 92.3% with MoM disease-related revisions excluded (95% CI, 88.2–95.0). Of the 158 cases with >10 years follow-up, 1 had elevated metal ion levels, 29 had a stable C1 pseudotumour and 6 a stable C2 pseudotumour. All pseudotumours were observed within 3 years after initiating our intensified ARMD screening (2011), with no new pseudotumours observed after that period.

We suggest that follow-up of MoM hip resurfacing patients beyond 10 years after surgery can be done with large intervals (i.e. every 5 years), and only earlier if a patient becomes symptomatic.