Changes in serum chromium levels over 12 years after Metasul metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty.

We reported the longitudinal changes in serum chromium levels over a minimum of 7 years postoperatively in five men and 25 women with a mean age of 60.3 years after primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty with a Metasul metal-on-metal articulation. The serum chromium ion level showed little variation (0.6-1.2 μg/L) from 2 to 12 years postoperatively in 16/30 patients after unilateral primary Metasul metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty. On the other hand, the serum chromium level stayed high or showed gradual elevation in 8/30 patients, even though they had well-fixed and well-functioning prostheses.