Metal On Metal Hip Replacement Cobalt Levels

The body naturally stores a certain level of cobalt and chromium for healthy cellular function.

Metal on metal hip replacement cobalt levels.

The results obtained confirm the presence of an increase of cobalt inthe blood of patients after total hip replacement while the chromium levels are almost alike. Slightly elevated metal levels are normal for patients with metal on metal hip replacements. Average values in patients operated are 4 1 1 5 microg l for cobalt 0 3 0 1 microg l in the control group and 4 5 2 9 microg l for chromium 4 7 2 4 microg l in the control group. Cobalt toxicity can occur with metal on metal and metal on polyethylene hip implants.

Bunning md facp facr. Really high metal levels are alarming. Average cobalt levels before hip replacement surgery were 21 nmol l for mom patients and 19 nmol l for mop patients. Metal on metal hip implants were often constructed with cobalt and chromium.

Cobalt is a part of vitamin b12 needed to produce red blood cells. What is considered a high level of chromium and cobalt. Besides the symptoms associated with other forms of metallosis cobalt toxicity can cause patients to suffer from fever inflammation and low thyroid levels. Released a report saying that concentrations higher than 7 parts per billion ppb of cobalt and or chromium are of concern.

This year s international story of cobalt toxicity occurring from metal wear after total hip replacement surgery was first broken during a session at the acr winter symposium on jan. One year after surgery average cobalt levels had risen to 417 nmol l for mom patients but only 33 nmol l for mop patients. A diagnosis out of the blue by robert d.