Arthroprosthetic cobaltism associated with metal on metal hip implants

Our initial experience with metal on metal hip implants1 was favourable. But several years later an uncharacteristically high proportion of patients developed progressive, unresolved, or new hip pain, some showing metal debris around the hip with tissue damage. Two patients had remarkably high cobalt concentrations, cognitive decline, cranial neuropathy, and early cardiomyopathy.2

We have just identified a fifth case of probable arthroprosthetic cobaltism …