Arthroplasty Today (Dec 2015)

Cardiac cobaltism: a rare complication after bilateral metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty

  • John R. Martin, MD,
  • Luke Spencer-Gardner, MD,
  • Christopher L. Camp, MD,
  • John M. Stulak, MD,
  • Rafael J. Sierra, MD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artd.2015.10.002
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 4
pp. 99 – 102

Abstract

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This is one of the first documented cases of metal-on-metal (MoM) total hip arthroplasty cobalt cardiac toxicity that has led to patient death. A 69-year-old female presented to our institution with cardiac failure secondary to cobalt toxicity resulting from bilateral MoM total hip arthroplasty. Her presenting metal ion levels were a cobalt level of 199 ppb and a chromium level of 77 ppb. She underwent bilateral femoral revisions to remove the source of cobalt. On postoperative day 7, the patient sustained a cerebral infarct and eventually expired because of the insult. This case represents one of the first documented fatalities related to MoM cobalt cardiac toxicity.

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