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Metal Ion Sensitivity

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Handbook of Spine Technology

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Abstract

Metal hypersensitivity to biomaterial alloys have been reported since the 1970s. While most reports have been in the total joint literature, in the last 10 years isolated spinal implant reactions have been reported. Much of this is because spine implants have been developed with bearing surfaces that may be a trigger for sensitizing patient from the local wear debris. Reaction to metal alloys and debris is a type IV hypersensitivity immunologic reaction in that it does not produce anaphylaxis. The adverse local tissue reactions (ALTR) around the implant can be substantial and lead to further surgery. The metal alloys used in spinal implants typically have an oxide passivation layer that can protect the body from these local reactions, but any type of fretting from modular connections of wear from a metal bearing can lead to exposure of the alloy below the passivation layer and be the trigger to the start of a reaction leading to ALTR.

Knowing the frequency of these sensitivities in the general population can help surgeons identify hypersensitive patients and notify them of the possible risk.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Campbell Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    William M. Mihalko & Catherine R. Olinger

Authors
  1. William M. Mihalko
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  2. Catherine R. Olinger
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Correspondence to William M. Mihalko .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Allegheny General Hospital Department of Neurosurgery, Mars, PA, USA

    Boyle Cheng

Section Editor information

  1. Allegheny Health Network, Department of Neurosurgery, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Boyle C. Cheng PhD

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Mihalko, W.M., Olinger, C.R. (2020). Metal Ion Sensitivity. In: Cheng, B. (eds) Handbook of Spine Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33037-2_139-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33037-2_139-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-33037-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-33037-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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