Those who have been implanted with a recalled Stryker Rejuvenate or ABGII hip implant device may wonder “How fast will my metal levels drop after my hip is removed?” While making the decision to have revision surgery is never an easy one, those who have tested high levels of cobalt and chromium and have suffered the ill effects of metal toxicity will likely want the source of those high metal levels removed. A study presented at the Orthopedic Research Society 2012 meeting held in San Francisco found that once the malfunctioning Stryker hip implant was removed metal ion levels begin to decrease significantly.
How Quickly Do Metal Levels Decrease Following Revision Surgery?
This study found that within four months after patients had their defective hip device removed, nearly 90 percent of cobalt and over 60 percent of chromium had cleared from their bodies. While this particular study was relatively small—only 28 patients total—all of the implant recipients had metal ion levels above 7 parts per billion prior to the revision surgery. Serum and whole blood samples were taken prior to the revision surgery, then at four months post-op. None of the patients included in the study suffered any type of renal impairment, meaning their kidneys were better able to eliminate the metal ions once the defective device was removed.
Metal Levels Decrease Significantly By One Year Post-Revision
A different study noted that at one year post removal of a metal hip implant device, cobalt and chromium ion levels were at nearly-normal levels. Generally speaking the first two months following removal of a metal hip implant produced the most rapid decline in metal ion levels with a more gradual reduction over the next year or two. This means that the patients who undergo removal of the defective hip implant should begin feeling significantly better within a very short time.
What Levels of Metal Ions Are Safe?
The determination of what level of metal ions in the body is “safe” is a controversial one. This is primarily due to the fact that different bodies respond differently to toxic metals in the body. One person with levels at only two parts per billion may be very ill while another person could have metal levels higher than the 7 parts per billion and have few current side effects. In any case, metal ion levels provide a reasonable measure of the wear the implant has undergone and generally speaking those with higher metal levels are likely to suffer implant failure and adverse metal toxicity symptoms.
The Stryker Recall
The Stryker Rejuvenate and ABGII were recalled in July 2012 with the company citing excessive fretting and corrosion which could lead to metal toxicity or failure of the implant. When the metal ions which shear away from the implant land in the surrounding hip tissue, inflammation, pain and bone and tissue loss or death are possible—all of which can lead to the necessity of a revision surgery. The metal ions which make it to the bloodstream can cause a variety of adverse health issues including: gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neurological, renal and thyroid issues, DNA disruption, the development of pseudo-tumors, loss of vision and hearing and depression, anxiety and irritability.