Allergy in hip arthroplasty

A prospective study was made in 85 patients of the relationship between implantation of metal-to-polyethylene hip prostheses and the incidence of delayed-type allergy to components of the prostheses. It shows that sensitization to cobalt, nickel and chromate, and to methacrylate, can develop as a result of such implantation. Loosening did not occur in any of the cases of possible sensitization. Evidence of allergy to prosthetic components was not found in any of the 10 cases of loosening.