OTE COVER STORY – When they were re-introduced on the market, metal-on-metal hip implants sparkled with the promise of lower volumetric wear rates, significantly less wear-induced osteolysis and improved implant stability. As a result, their popularity soared. Recent estimates list that up to 1 million of these devices have been used worldwide since 1996.
As clinical results emerged from national joint registries in the United Kingdom and Australia, a different image came into focus. The data revealed significantly higher revision rates for metal-on-metal (MoM) implants compared with their non-metal counterparts.
The adverse events now linked to some MoM implants vary. The most publicized problem has been metal ion release and adverse local tissue reactions, and these issues led to the recall of several MoM hip devices. However, some surgeons continue to use MoM resurfacing or total hip replacement (THR) implants — their practice backed by high long-term survivorship rates. […]
According to the European consensus statement on the use and monitoring of MoM bearings for THR and hip resurfacing, patients with MoM articulations with 32-mm heads or smaller should be followed in a manner similar to patients with conventional hip arthroplasties
