High Serum Ion Levels in Conserve plus Big Femoral Head Cemented Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract

Aim We report the short-term clinical, radiographic and ion level data of the Conserve Plus metal-on-metal (MoM) big femoral head (BFH) total hip arthroplasty (THA), used with a cemented cobalt-chrome (Co-Cr) Profemur Xm stem and a titanium (Ti) modular neck. Results In a consecutive series of 40 hips, survivorship at 3 years was 92.5% with revision for any reason. Average Harris Hip Score was 91.3. There were no implant loosenings. No osteolysis was observed. 5 patients had signs of adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR); their clinical scores were not different from the whole cohort. All but 1 patient had their Co serum ion levels measured. The average Co level was 14,1 μg/l (range 0.9-29.0; median 13.0 μg/l). Clinical scores did not correlate with ion level data. A comparative group of 42 hip resurfacing arthroplasties from the same manufacturer had significantly lower serum Co levels: 1.51 μg/l (range 0.9-4.0; median 0.9 μg/l). Conclusions All patients with the MoM BFH THA design should be followed regularly and should have ion level testing.