Blood Chromium-Cobalt Levels In Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty And Their Effect On The Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer And Macular Ganglion Cell Complex

Abstract

Purpose: To study blood cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) levels in patients who have undergone total knee arthroplasty and their effect on the retinal nerve fiber layer and macular ganglion cell complex. Methods: One hundred patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty and 50 healthy individuals who had no implants were included in the study. The patients were separated into two groups based on how long ago the prosthesis had been implanted (Group 1: 1 to 5 years; Group 2: 5 to 10 years). After a complete ophthalmological examination, retinal nerve fiber layer and macular ganglion cell complex of the patients were evaluated with optical coherence tomography, performed on dilated pupils. To assess the metal ion levels of the patients, venous blood samples were drawn from each patient. Results: The mean age of the patients was 64.72 +/- 6.26 years in Group 1, 67.80 +/- 8.07 years in Group 2, and 63.42 +/- 7.90 years in the control group. In the comparison of age and sex, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups and the control group. Co and Cr levels were statistically higher in Group 1 and Group 2 compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Mean retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses and mean macular ganglion cell complex thicknesses in Group 1 and Group 2 were statistically lower than in the control group. Conclusion: Levels of Co and Cr are higher in patients who undergone total knee arthroplasty than healthy subjects, and these higher levels were associated with changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer and macular ganglion cell complex.