Serum Chromium Levels Before and After Revision Surgery for Loosened Metal-On-Metal Total Hip Arthroplasty

We investigated the changes of serum chromium levels before and after revision surgery in 10 patients (1 male and 9 females) who underwent exchange of a metal-on-metal articulation for a metal-on-polyethylene component because of aseptic loosening of a metal-on-metal total hip prosthesis. Of the 10 patients, 2 had bilateral metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty. In the 8 patients who had no residual metal articulation, the mean serum chromium levels before and after revision surgery were 2.53 μg/L and 0.46 μg/L, respectively. In the 2 patients who still had a metal articulation on the contralateral side, the mean serum chromium levels before and after revision surgery were 2.85 μg/L and 1.90 μg/L, respectively. Moderate serum chromium levels in patients with metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty show a decrease after removal of the metal-on-metal articulation.