A Rare Complication of Arthroplasty: Metallosis

Abstract

Metallic prosthetic materials are used in place of bones and joints that have lost their function. Metallosis is a rare complication of the arthroplasty where metallic prostheses are used. It is defined as the infiltration of friction-related metallic debris into periprosthetic bones and soft tissues. Its histology is characterized by widespread lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic infiltration around metal debris, foreign body giant cells, metal particles, extracellular metal deposits and intracytoplasmic debris in giant cells. Since it can be confused with malignant melanoma due to the presence of pigment as well as, giant cell tumors of the soft tissues and bones, care should be taken in the examination of post-arthroplastic materials. For this reason, we found it worthwhile to present two rare cases of post-arthroplasty metallosis, one developed in the knee joint and the other in the hip joint.

Keywords

• Metallosis
• arthroplasty
• complication
• foreign body reaction