Are there titanium alloys without vanadium in use in hip implants

Posted by jeanry @jeanry, 1 day ago

I need a hip replacement, but I tested positive for a vanadium allergy. The standard implant has a ceramic cup and titanium alloy stem which contains aluminum and vanadium. I’ve heard there are alternative titanium alloys (ex. Ti-6Al-7Nb which replaces the vanadium with niobium). Also ceramic on ceramic has no vanadium. But my surgeon said they are no vanadium free implants available. What’s the truth? Has anyone had experience with one of these alternatives? Are they available or just in testing stages?
By the way, I am also allergic to nickel and cobalt. So the older alloys won’t work for me.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

steveinarizona | @steveinarizona | 1 day ago

I had a titanium hip four years ago but seven months ago the same surgeon used an oxidized zirconium replacement for my knee. It is supposed to be biocompatible and vanadium free: Smith & Nephew Journey II system. The same company makes a hip implant of the same material:
https://www.smith-nephew.com/en/health-care-professionals/products/orthopaedics/oxinium
So there are products out there. It is disturbing that your surgeon says there are none that are available. I would look for a new surgeon for two reasons:

(1) Obviously your surgeon is not staying current so what else is he missing? and
(2) The most important criteria, IMHO, for a hip replacement surgeon is extensive experience doing the exact procedure you are going to get. Even if your surgeon knew about the alternatives, if he is not used to using one of them he is not going to meet this important test.

Look for a surgeon who routinely uses the compatible implant that you want.

jeanry | @jeanry | 15 hours ago

He won’t be performing my surgery, but I want to understand if there is anything to what he is saying. He is among the most experienced in the country and he said he called 4 manufacturers including some of those I came across.
There are 4 parts to the implant: the stem which goes into the bone, the head which sits atop the stem, the cup which sits in the socket and the liner which covers the cup. The stem and the cup are generally a titanium alloy , the liner is ceramic and the head could be either. He may be saying that one of the parts (the cup) is not available in the alternative titanium alloy.
I’m not sure why a company would produce a stem but not a cup with Ti-6Al-7Nb. The smith and nephew product should also include the cup. In any case they would have to be special ordered. Thanks for the link.

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | 13 hours ago

You may need to look at a specialty hospital or clinic - many hospitals and surgery centers stick to one or two distributors, and that may impact the doctor's response.
Will you be going to a large hospital, or a proprietary surgical center for your procedure?