Blood and urine metal ion levels in young and active patients after Birmingham hip resurfacing arthroplasty

FOUR-YEAR RESULTS OF A PROSPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL STUDY

J. Daniel, FRCS, Director of Research1; H. Ziaee,
BSc(Hons), Biomedical Scientist1; C. Pradhan, FRCS,
Staff Orthopaedic Surgeon1; P. B. Pynsent, PhD,
Director2; and D. J. W. McMinn, FRCS, Consultant
Orthopaedic Surgeon1
1 The McMinn Centre, 25 Highfield Road, Edgbaston,
Birmingham B15 3DP, UK.
2 Research and Teaching Centre, Royal Orthopaedic
Hospital, Northfield, Birmingham B31 2AP, UK.

This is a longitudinal study of the daily urinary output
and the concentrations in whole blood of cobalt and
chromium in patients with metal-on-metal resurfacings
over a period of four years…

…The effects of systemic metal ion exposure in patients
with metal-on-metal resurfacing arthroplasties continue
to be a matter of concern. The levels in this study
provide a baseline against which the in vivo wear
performance of newer bearings can be compared.