Immune Response to Implants eMedicine Orthopedics

Description: Rabin, Graf, Hopkinson & Hallab 2005
Metal hypersensitivity is commonly reported in the literature and can include hypersensitivity related to pacemakers, dental implants, and orthopedic hardware. The development of metal sensitivity after implantation of orthopedic hardware is common.
The clinical significance of metal sensitization remains a question. Nonetheless, the orthopedic surgeon must be aware of the potential problem, and when other more common causes of implant failure have been excluded, the possibility of allergic reaction to the metal must be considered, evaluated, and treated.
Synonyms and related keywords: pacemaker, dental implant, orthopedic implant, implanted orthopedic device, allergic reaction, nickel hypersensitivity, chromium sensitivity, cobalt sensitivity, migration inhibition factor, MIF, lymphocyte transformation testing, LTT proliferation testing, metal hypersensitivity implant hypersensitivity