Is metal allergy a concern in hip and knee replacement surgery?

In hip and knee replacement surgery, the hip and knee prostheses are made from metal. Metal can be a problem for those with hypersensitivity to metals, especially those with nickel allergies. Other materials may be used in place of nickel to make the joint, but they come with their own set of drawbacks. If you are concerned about a metal allergy, get an appointment with Dr. Morton and get tested today.

What metals are typically in a knee replacement?

There are several metal alloys typically found in knee replacements, including cobalt, chromium, titanium, and nickel. These metals combine long-term durability with biocompatibility.

What is a metal allergy?

Metals found in knee prostheses can activate your immune system, leading to implant failure. Metal hypersensitivity (also known as metal allergy) is considered a Type IV hypersensitivity. This is a type of allergy where the presentation of symptoms is delayed (not an immediate reaction, as in anaphylaxis or allergic shock).

There are two phases to a type IV hypersensitivity. During the first phase, your body becomes sensitized to the metal. Eventually, the proteins in your body bind to the metal, forming antigen-hapten complexes. The antigen-hapten complexes are then presented to T-cells, macrophages, and other immune cells in your synovial tissue.

These T-cells are responsible for various symptoms, including increased swelling, stiffness, pain, loss of motion, and a rash.

Metal hypersensitivity is controversial, as many orthopedic surgeons do not believe in metal allergies. Many orthopedic surgeons will consider using unique implants for patients who notice an allergic contact dermatitis reaction after their skin touches cheap metals.

How common is a metal allergy in the population?

In the general population, it is estimated that the prevalence of a nickel allergy is 13%, cobalt is 2% and chromium is 1%. Allergy to other metals is fairly rare. However, the presence of a skin allergy alone, may not dictate an allergic reaction to a knee replacement. If you notice a skin rash after wearing costume jewelry, you may be allergic to nickel. Please inform Dr. Morton if you have contact dermatitis secondary to a nickel allergy.

How do I know if I have a metal allergy?

Patients considering knee replacement are often asked about their history of allergies. If patients note that they have a contact allergy following direct contact with metal exposure, such as with costume jewelry, they may have a nickel allergy. Tattoo inks also have metal salts in them, so someone who develops contact dermatitis after getting a tattoo might be at risk of a cobalt or nickel allergy.

Contact Dermatitis

Symptoms of a metal allergy can take from 4 weeks to 2 years to develop symptoms after surgery.

Before diagnosing an allergic reaction to metal, other causes of persistent pain should be ruled out, such as:

• Infection
• Midflexion instability
• Malalignment
• Patella tracking issues
• Implant loosening
• Metallosis

What is an allergic patch test for allergic contact dermatitis?

Patch testing is commonly used to detect allergic contact dermatitis to metals. It is a test performed by testing your skin with small doses of the irritant. The sensitivity and specificity of this test are only 77% and 71% for determining if a patient has a hypersensitivity to metal. An allergic reaction at the skin level may not necessarily correspond to an allergic reaction at the bone or muscle layer level.

If you are interested in patch testing, schedule an appointment at our office for Sensiband testing.

The Sensiband is an innovative wristband designed to test for metal allergies, a critical consideration for individuals preparing for joint replacement surgeries. It holds interchangeable discs made of medically pure metals, including Nickel, Cobalt, Chromium, Titanium, Molybdenum, Aluminum, and Copper, against the skin for up to a week. This first-of-its-kind, patented wearable metal test kit enables users to identify potential allergic reactions to the metals commonly used in joint replacements, dental implants, and other medical procedures. The process is straightforward: if a user develops a skin reaction like contact dermatitis while wearing the band, it suggests an allergy to the particular metal in contact with their skin. This vital information can be communicated to surgeons before procedures involving metal implants, such as knee or hip replacements. The Sensiband thus offers a simple, cost-effective, and efficient method for preoperative allergy testing, helping to prevent serious postoperative complications associated with metal hypersensitivity.

What is the lab test for a metal allergy following knee replacement?

A few tests have been created. None are widely available.

The most common test that is available is the lymphocyte transformation test. The lymphocyte transformation test is a blood test that compares how many white blood cells are created after seven days with and without exposure to metal. This test has higher sensitivity compared to patch test alone.

What does the x-ray for a hypersensitivity response for a knee replacement look like?

X-rays in patients with metal hypersensitivity reactions often look normal. Sometimes there is osteolysis (loss of bone) around the metal implants on x-ray. This loss of bone can sometimes lead to severe loosening of the components and failure of the knee replacement.

What do biopsies of metal allergies look like?

Often, during implant removal, intra-operative biopsies are obtained. These biopsies usually demonstrate increased lymphocyte infiltration into the synovial tissue. The synovial tissue is the tissue found within the knee joint responsible for generating fluid in the knee (synovial fluid). Often, the synovial tissue will show granulation tissue, fibrosis, numerous giant cells, and calcification. These findings are consistent with a chronic inflammatory response.

What are the treatments for nickel allergy after knee replacement?

Many patients demonstrate improvements following short-term therapy with topical steroid medication for the rash. Anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy may treat the symptoms of synovitis (inflamed tissue).

If symptoms do not resolve, revision surgery with a hypoallergenic implant may be considered.

Symptoms should resolve two to three months after revision surgery.

What are the possible alternatives to nickel implants in total knee replacement surgery?

Several manufacturers provide alternative knees for hypersensitive patients. Options include adding a coated layer on cobalt-chromium, ceramic-covered, and titanium implants. Most of these implants are designed to minimize allergic reactions to nickel.

Coated implants add a coating layer over the implant to prevent exposure to the underlying metals. Standard coating options include Titanium-nitride (TiN), Zirconia Nitride, and Titanium Nobium. Studies of these implants demonstrate that some have a higher revision rate (sometimes 91% at 5 years). At revision, implant-retrieval studies demonstrate that 20% of these implants have coating delamination and exposure to the deeper layers. This may cause nickel release and lead to a continued immune response.

Ceramic implants include oxidized zirconia (Oxinium). This implant utilizes a femur that is coated with oxinium and a tibia that is made of titanium, thus avoiding nickel allergy issues. Concerns arise from the Australian Joint Registry, where 12-year outcomes demonstrate a 2x higher risk for revision in Oxinium knees. This is similar to the American Joint Registry evaluating 7-year data of these implants. A recent study in 2023 demonstrated that there may actually be an increase in nickel during implantation of these components.

Titanium implants may undergo a hardening process that creates a nitrogen-enriched zone on the surface of a titanium femur component. Interestingly, implants that undergo this process demonstrate a 96% reduction in wear rates compared to conventional implants and may lead to longer-lasting implants. This is the implant of choice for Dr. Morton in patients who are concerned of a metal allergy. Read more about Ti-Nidium here.

Do I need a hypoallergenic knee replacement if I do not have a history of metal allergies?

In patients who do not have an allergy before surgery do not necessarily require a hypoallergenic knee replacement. The available tests are unreliable. Furthermore, there may be some concern regarding these implants’ longevity and clinical performance. If you do have an allergic contact dermatitis reaction to nickel, you discuss this with Dr. Morton, and you may be a candidate for a hypoallergenic knee replacement.

Should I consider a revision knee replacement if I have a painful knee replacement?

Success rates for revision knee replacement where there is a strong suggestion of a metal allergy are variable. Several case series have demonstrated successful treatment of metal allergy with revision to a knee replacement without nickel. There are also reports of patients who do not do well with the surgery. Discuss with Dr. Morton if you would be a candidate for revision knee replacement.