Hip implants: Metal wear impairs bone-forming cells' function

In metal-on-metal pairings, both the shell and head of an implant consist of a cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy, report researchers looking into the safety of hip implants. The release of metal ions into the body has been reported as a result of implant wear. Bone loss (osteolysis) was observed in many cases. Researchers have been able to show now that cobalt and chromium release contributes to bone loss.