Radiographic Risk Factors Associated With Adverse Local Tissue Reaction in Head-Neck Taper Corrosion of Primary Metal-on-Polyethylene Total Hip Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND

Adverse local tissue reactions (ALTRs) in metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) total hip arthroplasty (THA) with head-neck taper corrosion are multifactorial, involving implant and patient factors. This study aimed to identify any potential clinical risk factors associated with failed MoP THA due to head-neck taper corrosion.

METHODS

A series of 146 MoP THA patients was investigated: (1) ALTR (n = 42) on metal artifact sequence MRI and (2) non-ALTR (n = 104). Both cohorts were compared regarding femoral neck shaft angle, acetabular implant orientation, component size, femoral head offset, measurement of medial and vertical femoral offsets, and femoral stem alloy.

RESULTS

The occurrence of ALTR was associated with increased radiographic femoral stem offset (36.0 ± 7.7 mm versus 40.8 ± 7.3 mm, P = 0.008), increased femoral head offset (0.7 ± 3.4 versus 4.5 ± 3.7, P < 0.001), and the use of Ti-12Mo-6Zr-2Fe alloy stems (P = 0.041). The presence of ALTR was notably associated with higher chromium (2.0 versus 0.5 μg/L) and cobalt (7.4 versus 0.7 μg/L, P < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

This study identified increased femoral head and stem offset and the use of Ti-12Mo-6Zr-2Fe alloy stems as risk factors for clinically relevant ALTR due to head-neck taper corrosion in MoP THA patients. This provides evidenced-based practical information for surgeons in identifying "at-risk" symptomatic MoP THA patients with head-neck taper corrosion for systematic risk stratification.