Metal-on-metal hip prostheses: Correlation between debris in the synovial fluid and levels of cobalt and chromium ions in the bloodstream

Purpose Hip prostheses with metal-on-metal (MoM) coupling can release cobalt-chromium particles and ions. The aim of this work is to verify the correlation between particles in the synovial fluid and circulating ions. Methods Forty patients were enrolled; particles from synovial fluid were analysed by SEM-EDX (Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersion X-rays analysis) and levels of circulating Co and Cr were assayed by ICP-MS (inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry). Results In 16 cases we did not find any particles in the synovial fluid and the Co level in whole blood was 0.05-4.42 ppb; in seven with few particles the blood level was 2.2-15.6 ppb; in six cases with several particles the level was 5.0-54.3 ppb; finally, in 11 cases we isolated not only Co-Cr particles, but also Cr particles with low or absent Co and in these patients the circulating level of Co was 23.8-109.6 ppb. Co in serum and Cr level both whole blood and serum have shown a similar trend to Co; the correlation between all these values and the corresponding particles is statistically significant in all cases. Conclusion Co and Cr both in serum and whole blood represents a systemic representation of the particle release at local level and can therefore be used to confirm a diagnosis and monitor the wear process of MoM articular prostheses.