Do All Knee Replacements Contain Cobalt?

All knee replacements, partial or total, will have parts made of a few different materials (likely metals and plastic). In most cases, each component is built from titanium, cobalt-chromium alloys, or a titanium and cobalt mixed metal.

Do they still use cobalt in knee replacements?

Typically made from cobalt-chromium as this material is scratch resistant and safe for use in total knee replacements. The majority of total knee femoral components are made out of cobalt-chromium with excellent long-term success rates.

Is there cobalt in artificial knees?

This is the most common type of implant. It features a metal femoral component that rides on a polyethylene plastic spacer attached to the tibial component. The metals commonly used include cobalt-chromium, titanium, zirconium, and nickel.

Do they still use cobalt for joint replacement?

Historically, this is made from titanium and/or cobalt-chromium metals. In the modern era of hip replacements, cemented stems (inserted with a surgical bone cement) are composed of cobalt-chromium metals.

What metals are used in total knee replacements?

The metal parts of the implant are made of titanium- or cobalt-chromium-based alloys. The plastic parts are made of medical grade polyethylene. Some implants are made of ceramics or ceramic/metal mixtures such as oxidized zirconium. These implants typically weigh between 15 and 20 ounces.

What are the symptoms of cobalt toxicity?

Symptoms

• Cardiomyopathy (a problem where your heart becomes big and floppy and has problems pumping blood)
• Deafness.
• Nerve problems.
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Thickening of the blood.
• Thyroid problems.
• Vision problems.

How common is cobalt poisoning?

Systemic cobalt toxicity post-arthroplasty is extremely rare. The few known fatal cases of cobalt toxicity appear to be a result of replacing shattered ceramic heads with metal-on-metal or metal-on-polyethylene implants.

Can you get a knee replacement if you are allergic to metal?

When a metal hypersensitivity has been diagnosed, surgeons need safe implants; many “hypersensitivity-friendly” knee arthroplasty components are currently available from various manufacturers. They can be divided in two categories: Coated implants and non-allergenic implants[23,31].

Can you have knee replacement surgery if you’re allergic to metal?

Metal allergy is a rare cause of implant failure. If you are allergic or sensitive to metal, then it is important to alert your surgeon prior to having joint replacement surgery. The most common metal allergy is nickel, which is found in very small quantities in knee implants and in some hip implants.

What are knee replacements made of now?

Artificial knee joints used in knee replacement surgery are typically made of metal and plastic. Metal alloy parts replace the damaged thighbone and shinbone. High-density plastic replaces cartilage on the shin and kneecap components.

What is the best knee replacement?

A TKR is now among the safest and most effective of all standard orthopedic surgeries. During a TKR, a surgeon removes the surface of your bones that have been damaged by osteoarthritis or other causes and replaces the knee with an artificial implant that is selected to fit your anatomy.

What is the best material for a knee replacement?

The metals generally used in knee implants include cobalt-chromium alloys and titanium-cobalt mixed metals. All of these metals are durable, flexible, and also do not corrode or react with the body.

What type of knee replacement implant is best?

Fixed-Bearing Knee Implants
This is the most commonly recommended knee prosthesis. Fixed-bearing implants have the tibial section made of a polyethylene cushion, and this is fixed to a metal base. This allows the upper femoral component to easily glide over it during movement.

Do all knee replacements contain metal?

Artificial replacement parts can be made of strong plastic, metal, or ceramic. All knee replacements, partial or total, will have parts made of a few different materials (likely metals and plastic). In most cases, each component is built from titanium, cobalt-chromium alloys, or a titanium and cobalt mixed metal.

Can a person be allergic to a knee replacement?

If you continue to have pain post knee-replacement surgery, you might be allergic to metal or bone cement.

What is the most commonly reported problem after knee replacement surgery?

Knee Stiffness
One of the most common problems people experience after knee replacement is a stiff knee joint. Often these symptoms can cause difficulty with normal activities including going down stairs, sitting in a chair, or getting out of a car.

What foods are high in cobalt?

Good food sources of cobalt include:

• fish.
• nuts.
• green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli and spinach.
• cereals, such as oats.

What everyday items have cobalt?

What are some products that may contain Cobalt (II) Chloride Hexahydrate?

• Artificial Joint Replacements.
• Bricks and Cement.
• Ceramic Paints (Blue Colors)
• Clothing Fasteners. • Buckles. • Buttons. • Hooks. • Pins. • Rivets. • Snaps. • Zippers.
• Cosmetics. • Eyeshadow.
• Household Tools and Utensils.
• Hair Ornaments.
• Jewelry.

How do you get cobalt out of your body?

One method of treating ASR Hip Replacement patients with high levels of chromium and cobalt in their blood is chelation therapy. The process involves the administration of chelating agents—the most common of which is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)—to remove the poisonous metals from the body.

How do you test for cobalt in blood?

1,2 Laboratory testing is needed to detect high levels of cobalt in the body that may lead to cobalt toxicity. Inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS): An argon plasma at 6,000-10,000 K destroys the organic matter in the sample and ionizes the metals.

Is cobalt used in surgery?

Due to its excellent resistance to degradation in the oral environment, the first medical use of cobalt-base alloys was in the cast of dental implants. Various in vitro and in vivo tests have shown that the alloys are biocompatible and suitable for use as surgical implants.