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Ceramic-on-metal hip components are no better in terms of ion levels

The use of ceramic-on-metal hip implants during hip replacement surgery does not result in decreased metal ion levels in a patients blood serum, it has been claimed.

According to new research led by orthopaedic surgeon Steven MacDonald and presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, clinical outcomes in terms of metal ion levels in the bloodstream were the same for ceramic-on-metal components as they were for metal-on-metal devices.

The results of the new study run counter to previous research which showed that metal-on-metal hips were linked to increased ion levels.

"It was a multicentre study, and patients as well as the staff conducting the surgery were blinded to the implant selection," MacDonald said.

"As far as outcome measures go, there were no significant differences between groups," he added.

The researchers used the latest analytical technology to assess ion levels in 72 patients.

Earlier this month, researchers claimed that ceramic-on-metal components were the future of weight-bearing surfaces in orthopaedic surgery.

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