Why Measure Systemic Metal Levels in Orthopaedic Patients?

Nadim James Hallab, PhD; Mitchell C. Weiser, MD

The pursuit of longer lasting, wear-resistant designs in modern total hip arthroplasty (THA) has resulted in the introduction of alternative bearing surfaces (such as metal-on-metal [MoM]) and modularity options (such as modular THA necks). Some of these implant designs have had less-than-optimal performance and have also been correlated with elevated levels of systemic metal ions, highlighting the current usefulness of metal ion blood testing.