Airport detection of implanted orthopedic devices

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States and other countries have increased airport security. Metal detectors (archway and handheld wand) are used to detect potentially dangerous instruments during airport screening. One consequence is that orthopedic implants are sometimes detected, and patients are detained and searched. The orthopedic literature is inconsistent in its reports on airport screening of patients with orthopedic implants. In this article, I review that literature and examine the factors that make detection of orthopedic implants a less than consistent science.