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Most patients should expect TKR implants to activate airport security systems
Researchers advise doctors to alert patients to reduce their anxiety and avoid travel delays.
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British investigators report patients with total knee replacements are more likely to set off walk-through airport security scanners because of the metal in their implants.
As such, their orthopaedists and family practitioners can help by warning them that this may occur and what they should expect at the next level of airport security.
Investigators found that 90% of patients experienced their implants setting off walk-through airport detectors.
“If it was a bilateral total knee replacement (TKR), then this number went to 100%,” Iain McNamara, MRCS, said.
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The study consisted of a phone survey of patients who underwent TKR within a 2-year period and a live test at a London airport involving several loose orthopaedic implants and patient volunteers with various implants.
McNamara presented results of the study at the 9th European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Congress.
Unicompartmental implants
“Interestingly, of those patients who had unicompartmental knee replacements (UKRs), either one side or both sides performed, none … actually activated the metal detectors,” he said.
The study also examined how sensitive security systems were to non-elective implants, such as titanium trauma implants.
Investigators surveyed 150 patients (61 men, 89 women) who had 111 TKRs, 20 UKRs, 17 bilateral TKRs and two bilateral UKRs.
Among them, 69 patients had flown on airplanes since their knee surgery and 47 patients had a TKR, 90% of which activated walk-through detectors.
According to results of the telephone survey, “More than 60% of our patients felt anxious about being stopped at security and also the possibility of a physical examination and public embarrassment,” McNamara said.
“In our service, no patients had actually been warned about the possibility of their knee replacement activating the scanner, which probably contributed to their anxiety,” he said.
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Image: McNamara I |
Information needed
When asked whether they would like to receive a card to show airport security personnel stating they have a metal prosthesis, more than 80% said they would, particularly if it enabled them to bypass the larger, more public scanners and be checked individually with a handheld scanner or in private.
McNamara showed data from walk-through and hand-held scanners in the airport test. Using the hand-held scanners, “Essentially all implants were detected no matter where in the body they were found,” he said.
The femoral TKR component, which contains the most metal, is typically the one security systems pick up, which explains why UKR devices with femoral components that are about half that size went undetected. However, “A variety of trauma implants, some of which are quite large, may go undetected,” McNamara explained, depending how the individual is positioned and how quickly they walk through the detectors.
For more information:
- Iain McNamara, FRCS, can be reached at the Orthopaedic Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Box 180, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, England; +44-1223-217551; e-mail: imcnamara@doctors.org.uk. He has no direct financial interest in any products or companies mentioned in this article.
Reference:
- McNamara I, Leivadiotou D, Cole N, Chitnavis J. Airport detection of orthopaedic implants following “9/11”: A British perspective. Paper F314. Presented at the 9th European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Congress. May 29-June 1, 2008. Nice.