A Case of Titanium Pseudotumor and Systemic Toxicity After Total Hip Arthroplasty Polyethylene Failure

Abstract

We describe the case of a 57-year-old female who underwent bilateral ceramic-on-polyethylene total hip arthroplasties performed in 2015. She presented to us in 2018 with headaches, fatigue, and right hip pain 5 months after an atraumatic right polyethylene liner failure for which she did not seek treatment. She was found to have imaging consistent with an adverse local tissue reaction and massive pseudotumor formation. During revision surgery, fracture of the acetabular liner was noted, with ceramic head wear through the titanium cup. In the months after her debridement and prosthesis revision, the patient continued to complain of systemic symptoms including weakness, fatigue, headaches, and vision problems. Serum titanium levels were found to be 100 times higher than normal. This case serves as a rarely reported example of titanium toxicity and titanium pseudotumor formation in the setting of polyethylene failure.

Keywords

• Titanium pseudotumor
• Metal toxicity
• Polyethylene failure