Seven Years of Chronological Changes of Serum Chromium Levels After Metasul Metal-On-Metal Total Hip Arthroplasty

Although many authors have reported the serum concentrations of metal ions in patients who had metal-on-metal coupling prostheses most of the studies were not longitudinal and the follow-up periods were short We evaluated the longitudinal changes of serum chromium levels in 44 patients who had undergone unilateral metal-on metal total hip arthroplasty for a minimum of 7 years postoperatively Although there was a consistent increase in the mean serum chromium level until 3 years after implantation there was little difference in the levels from years 3 to 7 postoperatively Although the serum chromium concentration was low throughout postoperative follow-up for 7 years in about 25% of patients the serum chromium level stayed high or showed gradual elevation in 16 3% of our patients