BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate early inflammatory response in the first 3 days after the implantation of hip prostheses, and to compare the early inflammation responses associated with the use of different combinations of bearing materials. METHODS: 34 patients were enrolled, all of whom underwent unilateral total hip replacement and had identical hip prostheses, except for the bearing materials. These consisted of polyethylene on alumina (n = 8), polyethylene on CoCr (n = 11), or alumina on alumina (n = 15). Blood samples were collected preoperatively in the morning of the day of surgery, and at 6 h, 1 day, 2 days, and 3 days postoperatively. CK, CRP, and IL-6 in peripheral blood were measured. Pain score was obtained at 2 days after surgery. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the pre- and postoperative background variables among the groups. Pain scores of different groups were not significantly different either (P > 0.05). There were also no significant differences in the levels of CK, CRP, and IL-6 when patients with the three combinations of bearing materials were compared. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that varying the bearing materials used in the hip prosthesis did not influence the early inflammatory response after prosthesis implantation.
BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate early inflammatory response in the first 3 days after the implantation of hip prostheses, and to compare the early inflammation responses associated with the use of different combinations of bearing materials. METHODS: 34 patients were enrolled, all of whom underwent unilateral total hip replacement and had identical hip prostheses, except for the bearing materials. These consisted of polyethylene on alumina (n = 8), polyethylene on CoCr (n = 11), or alumina on alumina (n = 15). Blood samples were collected preoperatively in the morning of the day of surgery, and at 6 h, 1 day, 2 days, and 3 days postoperatively. CK, CRP, and IL-6 in peripheral blood were measured. Pain score was obtained at 2 days after surgery. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the pre- and postoperative background variables among the groups. Pain scores of different groups were not significantly different either (P > 0.05). There were also no significant differences in the levels of CK, CRP, and IL-6 when patients with the three combinations of bearing materials were compared. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that varying the bearing materials used in the hip prosthesis did not influence the early inflammatory response after prosthesis implantation.