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Study links patient-reported metal allergies to poorer outcomes following THA, TKA
A decrease in functional outcomes following total knee arthroplasty and a decrease in mental health scores following total hip arthroplasty correlated with patient-reported metal allergy, according to recently published results.
Researchers retrospectively identified 906 patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) and 589 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Investigators administered a questionnaire to all patients regarding drug allergies and environmental allergies. In January 2010, they added a question about metal allergies to the questionnaire. Preoperatively and at the most recent follow-up, investigators collected the University of California Los Angeles activity score, SF-12 score, modified Harris Hip score and Knee Society score. Metal allergy patients and patients without these allergies were compared, and investigators performed a 1:2 case-matched analysis.
Results showed prior to January 2010, the patient-reported metal allergy incidence rate was 1.7%. After this time, the rate was 4%. Investigators noted that of the metal allergy patients, 97.8% were female. In patients with metal allergies who underwent TKA, the Knee Society subdomains for function, symptoms, satisfaction and expectation decreased postoperatively. There was a decrease in the SF-12 metal component score among allergy patients who underwent THA, with less improvement in the SF-12 component score compared with patients who had no metal allergies. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosures: Nam reports he receives research support from EOS Imaging; is a paid consultant for KCI and has stock or stock options in OrthAlign Inc. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.