Measurement of in vivo wear of joint replacements in humans

Principal Investigator: Alister Hart

Working with colleagues at, the MRC HNR centre in Cambridge, and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, we have developed methods of using a blood test to measure how rapidly metal on metal hip replacements are wearing (whilst still inside the patient). The wear particles are nanoparticles (<100nm in at least 1 dimension). We are applying this blood test as an in vivo biomarker of wear rate to determine the influence of the following on hip replacement durability: 1) manufacturing factors; 2) patient factors and 3) surgical factors.

Projects include:

A. Blood metal as a biomarker of in vivo wear rates of metal on metal hip replacements

B. Biological effects of micro and nano sized wear particles from all types of bearing surfaces (microbiology, genetotoxicity, cytotoxicity and immunology)

C. Wear analysis of failed MOM hips (see Implant retrieval centre for metal on metal hips)

Publications / Conference Presentations

The Determination of Cobalt and Chromium in Whole Blood Sampled from Metal-Metal and Metal-Polyethylene Hip ArticulationPatients by DRC-ICP-MS. Metal Ions in Biology and Medicine Conference Proceedings, John Libbey Eurotext, Paris Volume 10 (In Press), 2008. Winship PD, Faria NJR, Skinner JA, Hart AJ and Powell JJ

Hart AJ; Tarrassoli P; Budhev P; Skinner JA. High inclination angles are associated with high levels of blood metal ions. Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), London, Apr 2006.

Powell JJ; Winship P; Pele L; Hart AJ; Skinner JA. Exogenous Minerals In Biological Systems: Relationship Between Physicochemical Form And Biological Outcomes And Relevance To Orthopaedics. British Orthopaedic Association, International metal ions meeting Bristol, Nov 2006. Accepted for JBJS Proceedings.