Cardiac cobaltism: a rare complication after bilateral metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty

This is one of the first documented cases of metal-on-metal (MoM) total hip arthroplasty cobalt cardiac toxicity that has led to patient death. A 69-year-old female presented to our institution with cardiac failure secondary to cobalt toxicity resulting from bilateral MoM total hip arthroplasty. Her presenting metal ion levels were a cobalt level of 199 ppb and a chromium level of 77 ppb. She underwent bilateral femoral revisions to remove the source of cobalt. On postoperative day 7, the patient sustained a cerebral infarct and eventually expired because of the insult. This case represents one of the first documented fatalities related to MoM cobalt cardiac toxicity.