Early Corrosion-Related Failure of the Rejuvenate Modular Total Hip Replacement

Morteza Meftah, Amgad M. Haleem, Matthew B. Burn, Kevin M. Smith, Stephen J. Incavo
2014 Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American volume  
The Rejuvenate modular-neck stem implant (Stryker Orthopaedics, Mahwah, New Jersey) was recently recalled due to corrosion at the femoral neck-stem junction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of corrosion-related failure and survivorship of this implant and analyze the correlation of implant and patient factors with serum metal ion levels and revisions. Methods: From Rejuvenate total hip arthroplasty stems (ninety-seven modular and twenty-six nonmodular) were implanted in
more » ... patients by a single surgeon. Serum cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) levels (micrograms per liter [µg/L]) were measured postoperatively for all patients. Patients with persistent hip pain or elevated metal ion levels underwent magnetic resonance imaging for assessment of osteolysis or adverse local tissue reactions. Correlation of implant factors (stem size, head size, head length, and femoral head-neck offset) and patient factors (age, sex, and body mass index) with serum metal ion levels and revisions were analyzed with use of logistic regression models. Results: The mean duration of follow-up (and standard deviation) was 2.7 ± 0.6 years. The mean Co and Cr levels were 5.4 ± 5.7 µg/L (range, 0.2 to 31 µg/L) and 2.1 ± 1.5 µg/L (range, 0.1 to 4.3 µg/L), respectively. The differences in Co and Cr levels between the two groups (modular and non-modular) were significant: 48% of the total hip arthroplasties in the modular group resulted in elevated metal ion levels (Co >4.0 µg/L and Cr >2.0 µg/L; p < 0.05). The metal ion levels in the non-modular group were normal. In the modular group, higher metal ion levels were significantly correlated with younger age and a higher femoral 3/20/14, 8:55 AM Print Window Page 2 of 11 head-neck offset (p = 0.04). Pain and high Co serum levels were significant predictors of revision surgery (p = 0.006). The rate of revision at the time of this study was 28% in the modular group, with the majority of the revisions performed in the second year after surgery; the Kaplan-Meier survivorship was 40% at four years.
doi:10.2106/jbjs.m.00979 pmid:24647504 fatcat:bivkeqtckrfwtgrjbq32y6p5xu