Inflammatory response to orthopedic biomaterials after total hip replacement

The aim of the present study was to investigate early inflammatory response in the first 3 days after the implantation of hip prostheses, and to compare the early inflammation responses associated with the use of different combinations of bearing materials.

34 patients were enrolled, all of whom underwent unilateral total hip replacement and had identical hip prostheses, except for the bearing materials. These consisted of polyethylene on alumina (n = 8), polyethylene on CoCr (n = 11), or alumina on alumina (n = 15). Blood samples were collected preoperatively in the morning of the day of surgery, and at 6 h, 1 day, 2 days, and 3 days postoperatively. CK, CRP, and IL-6 in peripheral blood were measured. Pain score was obtained at 2 days after surgery.

There were no significant differences in the pre- and postoperative background variables among the groups. Pain scores of different groups were not significantly different either (P > 0.05). There were also no significant differences in the levels of CK, CRP, and IL-6 when patients with the three combinations of bearing materials were compared.

We concluded that varying the bearing materials used in the hip prosthesis did not influence the early inflammatory response after prosthesis implantation.