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Updated: Dec 8, 2025
Potentiodynamic Corrosion Testing
Published on: September 4, 2016
Interchangeable neck failures of bi-modular femoral stems in primary total hip arthroplasty cannot be predicted from
Samo K Fokter1, Jan Zajc2, Matjaž Merc3
1Department for Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, 5 Ljubljanska Street, SLO-2000, Maribor, Slovenia. samo.fokter@guest.arnes.si.
Introduction:
Revision of a well-fixed stem due to unexpected modular neck fracture is a catastrophe for the patient and a challenge for the surgeon. This study aimed to test the possibility of predicting interchangeable neck fracture from serum levels of the stem/neck alloy-consisting metals.
Materials And Methods:
Nineteen patients at high risk for interchangeable neck fracture were randomly selected out of a cohort of 680 bimodular stems made from Ti6Al4V alloy. Serum levels of titanium, aluminium and vanadium were determined. Nine age- and gender-matched patients were used as controls.
Results:
Mean serum levels of Ti were 6.04 ± 2.52 μg/L, of Al 3.89 ± 1.68 μg/L and of V 0.07 ± 0.04 μg/L in the high-risk group, and 8.22 ± 4.74 μg/L, 4.99 ± 3.98 μg/L and 0.27 ± 0.44 μg/L in the low-risk group, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups.
Discussion:
Interchangeable neck fracture of bimodular femoral stems cannot be predicted from serum trace element analysis.
