The data found:

Mothers with MoM implants and their offspring had elevated Chromium and cobalt levels compared to the cohort without metal implants.

A correlation existed between maternal and infant cobalt and chromium levels in the Implant Group, while the Control Group showed no correlation.

Offspring of women with MoM implants had about half the levels of cobalt in their bloodstream as their mothers and approximately 15 percent of their mother's chromium levels, while there was no significant difference among ion levels between mothers and infants in the Control Group.

There was no statistically significant differences in levels of titanium or nickel among any of the cohorts.

Dr. Jacobs noted that because the cobalt and chromium levels of the infants did not increase to those of their mothers, the data suggests the placenta does modulate the transfer of metal ions to the fetus.

"The next step is to find out what, if any affect metal ions have on fetal or infant development," he said. "The best way to do that would be through the establishment of a national joint registry by which clinicians could input and access long-term data."

He added that, in the meantime, medical device companies are feverishly working to develop new technologies that will reduce the release of ions through improvements in wear and corrosion properties of metal implants. "Any advancements in this area will directly benefit patients," he said.

Joint replacement, also known as arthroplasty, is considered by many to be one of the most successful medical innovations of the 20th century. Total joint replacement is a surgical procedure in which the patient's natural joint is replaced with an artificial one, made of a combination of plastic, metal, and/or ceramic.

The most common reasons for this surgery are pain and stiffness that limits normal activities such as walking and bending and that cannot be satisfactorily treated with medications or other therapies. Therefore, joint replacement surgery often provides a significantly improved quality of life to patients who would otherwise have to live with severe pain.

In 2007, there were 251,882 primary total hip replacements performed in the United States, and that number is on the rise -- particularly as the Baby Boomer population continues to age. Because of this trend, it is important to optimize patient outcomes.



Source-Medindia
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