CoMeR was founded in 2010 after UK health officials issued their first alert for metal-on-metal hip implants. In late 2010, Coxa Hospital for Joint Replacement started a systematic follow-up of metal-on-metal hip replacement patients with measurements of whole blood cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) concentrations. In addition, metal artifact reduction sequencing magnetic resonance imaging (MARS-MRI) of hips was initiated to detect potential adverse reactions to metal. Over the years the patient follow-up has become systematic and consistent. From the very beginning, in addition to the treatment and follow-up of patients, our focus has been on conducting high-quality scientific research on the prevalence, risk factors and pathogenetic mechanisms of adverse metal reactions as well as on outcomes and usefulness of screening methods.
CoMeR is a strongly interdisciplinary research group with clinicians, clinical researchers, musculoskeletal radiologists and histopathologists. CoMeR also engages in international collaboration with orthopaedic research groups in UK top universities (University College London and University of Oxford).
The group’s research has produced three doctoral dissertations, more than ten theses for advanced studies and dozens of scientific articles published in international peer-reviewed journals.
The research is led by Coxa Research Director and Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon Antti Eskelinen
Research group publications
Lainiala O, Karsikas M, Reito A, Eskelinen A. Whole blood chromium concentration is very rarely elevated independently of whole blood cobalt. Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 11;11(1):12352. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-91512-9
Honkasaari N, Lainiala O, Laine O, Reito A, Eskelinen A. No association between blood count levels and whole-blood cobalt and chromium levels in 1,900 patients with metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty. Acta Orthop. 2020 Dec;91(6):711-716. doi: 10.1080/17453674.2020.1827191
Bergiers S, Hothi H, Henckel J, Eskelinen A, Skinner J, Hart A. Does diametrical clearance influence the wear of Pinnacle hip implants? Bone Joint Res. 2020 Aug 25;9(8):515-523. doi: 10.1302/2046-3758.98.BJR-2019-0195.R2
Lainiala O, Reito A, Nieminen J, Eskelinen A. Complications and re-revisions after revisions of 528 metal-on-metal hips because of adverse reaction to metal debris. Acta Orthop. 2020 Aug;91(4):365-371. doi: 10.1080/17453674.2020.1748351
Reito A, Lehtovirta L, Parkkinen J, Eskelinen A. Histopathological patterns seen around failed metal-on-metal hip replacements: Cluster and latent class analysis of patterns of failure. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2020 Apr;108(3):1085-1096. doi: 10.1002/jbm.b.34460
Lainiala OS, Reito AP, Nieminen JJ, Eskelinen AP. Declining Revision Burden of Metal-on-Metal Hip Arthroplasties. J Arthroplasty. 2019 Sep;34(9):2058-2064.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2019.04.058.