Metal On Metal Hip Replacement Cobalt Levels

The patient described in the preceding clinical vignette is an excellent example of a concerning medical topic emerging in the current news.

Metal on metal hip replacement cobalt levels.

If you re not sure what type of implant you have or you have any concerns about your hip you can consult your doctor for advice. A diagnosis out of the blue by robert d. The tga review of that advice which included referral to an external group of experts found that the. In this article we discuss the health risks that are related to chronically elevated blood cobalt concentrations induced by abnormal wear and corrosion of the mom prosthesis.

The body naturally stores a certain level of cobalt and chromium for healthy cellular function. This year s international story of cobalt toxicity occurring from metal wear after total hip replacement surgery was first broken during a session at the acr winter symposium on jan. Metal on metal mom implants have only been used in a minority of all hip replacement surgeries. All artificial hip implants carry risks including wear of the component material.

Cobalt chromium poisoning is a risk for anyone with a metal on metal mom hip replacement. Metal on metal mom hip implants have unique risks in addition to the general risks of all hip implants. Bunning md facp facr. Since 2011 cobalt and chromium blood levels are measured in patients with a metal on metal hip implant mom prosthesis.

Cobalt toxicity can occur with metal on metal and metal on polyethylene hip implants. As hip replacements fail and metal flakes enter the body patients can suffer from cobalt toxicity elevated cobalt levels. Collect data on levels of chromium and cobalt in patients blood. Many metal hip replacements were constructed using a hard metal called cobalt in order to extend the life of the hip replacement.

On 29 june 2017 the uk medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency s mhra published updated advice regarding metal on metal mom hip replacement implants. They are done on very few people now so this may not affect you. But plants animals and humans need only tiny amounts of it to survive. It happens when there s friction between metal surfaces.

Metal on metal hip replacement manufacturers have until june 5 to come up with a plan for safety studies. Your doctor will probably order blood tests to check the levels. Update 14 july 2017 metal on metal hip replacement implants 20 september 2012 update. Elevated blood cobalt levels in a patient with bilateral metal on metal hip prostheses.

Cobalt is a part of vitamin b12 needed to produce red blood cells.