Hip implants—metal wear impairs bone-forming cells' function

In metal-on-metal pairings, both the shell and head of an implant consist of a cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy. The release of metal ions into the body has been reported as a result of implant wear. Bone loss (osteolysis) was observed in many cases. Some implant manufacturers have withdrawn devices of this type from the market. Recently, physicians and researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and DRK Klinikum Westend have been able to show that cobalt and chromium release contributes to bone loss. Their findings, which show that metal ions impair the progenitors of bone-forming cells, have been published in the current edition of the journal Biomaterials.

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