Metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty: does increasing modularity affect clinical outcome?

Modularity of metal-on-metal (MoM) implants has come under scrutiny due to concerns regarding additional sources of metal debris. This study is a retrieval analysis of implants from the same manufacturer with the same MoM bearing surface. The difference between the implants was presence or absence of modular junctions.

This is a retrospective study of 31 retrieved implants from 31 patients who received a Conserve Wright Medical MoM hip prosthesis. The 31 implants consisted of 16 resurfacings and 15 implants with modular junctions; 4 conventional THAs and 11 modular-neck THAs.

43% of pre-revision MRI scans performed on resurfacing implants and 91% performed on the modular implants illustrated evidence of an adverse local tissue reaction. There was no difference in pre-revision blood metal ion levels or bearing surface wear between the resurfacings and modular implants. The neck-head tapers of the modular group showed low levels of material loss. However, the neck-stem tapers showed increased severity of corrosion and material loss.

The modular implants had an increased incidence of adverse local tissue reaction. This could be related to the presence of modular junctions, particular the neck-stem junction which showed increased susceptibly to corrosion.