INCREASED METAL RELEASE FROM CEMENTED FEMORAL COMPONENTS MADE OF TITANIUM-ALLOY - 19 HIP PROSTHESES FOLLOWED WITH RADIOSTEREOMETRY (RSA)

In 19 patients the concentrations of metal were measured in serum, uri ne and joint fluid 2 years after implantation of uncemented commercial ly pure titanium acetabular cups and cemented or uncemented femoral co mponents made of titanium alloy. A ceramic against the polyethylene ar ticulation was used. The fixation of the components was followed with radiostereometry (RSA). Samples from 12 patients scheduled for hip or knee prostheses and without any metallic implant were used as controls . High levels of titanium were found in cemented hips and when large a cetabular cups had been inserted. Increased aluminum levels were also noted in the cemented hips. Vanadium was not detected in any of the sa mples. Micromotions were detected in most of the implants, but the mag nitude of these movements could not be used to predict the release of metal into the synovial fluid.