Metallosis-associated prosthetic joint infection

Total joint replacement is the standard treatment of advanced osteoarthritis. Metal-on-Metal (MoM) hip resurfacing and hip arthroplasty are associated with long durability and low rates of dislocations and used to be the standard surgical treatments. Complications due to MoM prostheses have however been widely reported [1]. Adverse reactions to metal debris (ARMD) such as metallosis result from the progressive degradation of the metal surface and from metal ions deposition in the surrounding tissues. The formation of “pseudotumors” leading to prosthe- sis malfunction has been reported after MoM resurfacing. Total arthroplasty can also lead to the infection of the prosthesis as a consequence of contamination during surgery or bacteremic infection not related to the prosthesis. Infections remain quite common (1–3% of surgical procedures) but reports of associ- ated ARMD are limited. We report the case of three patients presenting with metallosis-associated infection on joint pros- thesis.