At short term follow-up, the mean wear-rate in old and low demand patients was high, correlated to activity, and was above the generally accepted osteolysis threshold (0.1 mm/yr.). Cementless HA-coated cups had higher wear-rate than cemented cups.

Adverse reactions to metal-on-metal (MoM) prostheses are well known from total hip joint resurfacing arthroplasty with elevated serum chrome or cobalt, pain and pseudo tumor formation. It may, however, also be seen after total joint replacement of the trapeziometacarpal joint using MoM articulation, and we present two cases of failure of MoM prostheses due to elevated metal-serum levels in one case and pseudo tumor formation in another case. Furthermore, we suggest a diagnostic algorithm for joint pain after MoM trapeziometacarpal joint replacement based on published experiences from MoM hip prostheses and adverse reactions to metal.

At short term follow-up, the mean wear-rate in old and low demand patients was high, correlated to activity, and was above the generally accepted osteolysis threshold (0.1 mm/yr.). Cementless HA-coated cups had higher wear-rate than cemented cups.