Surgeons using metal-alloy allergy tests to screen patient candidates for total hip or knee

Allergy Tests Needed Before New Knee or Hip (MedPageToday)
Preoperative skin patch testing for metal allergy influenced treatment planning in two-thirds of a small cohort of patients scheduled to receive metal-containing prosthetic devices, a retrospective chart review showed.
All 21 patients with positive tests received allergen-free prostheses and had no complications associated with hypersensitivity.
Post-implantation patch testing led to prosthesis removal in 10 additional patients, and six had resolution of hypersensitivity-associated symptoms.
"The findings of this study support a role f...