[Metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Biomaterials science
• Toxicology

Context:

• Denmark has implanted 4,456 metal-on-metal (MoM) hip prostheses.
• Growing evidence links MoM implants to adverse biological reactions and arthroplasty failures.
• Potential for systemic adverse reactions necessitates careful monitoring.

Purpose:

• To summarize the current understanding of adverse reactions associated with MoM hip implants.
• To highlight the association between implant design and failure rates.
• To introduce a Danish surveillance program established to address MoM hip arthroplasty issues.

Summary:

• Metal-on-metal (MoM) hip arthroplasty failures are linked to adverse biological reactions, some potentially systemic.
• Failure rates vary depending on the specific type and design of the MoM hip implant.
• A national surveillance program in Denmark has been implemented to monitor MoM hip prostheses.

Impact:

• Informing orthopedic surgeons and patients about the risks associated with MoM hip implants.
• Guiding the development of safer hip implant designs.
• Providing data for public health initiatives and regulatory oversight of medical devices.