Researchers from the Heberg Allergy & Asthma Center in Rogers, Ark., sent surveys to 320 physicians who were members of the Arkansas Medical Society about the role of metal allergies in implant patients.
Here are five highlights:
1. Of the respondents, 37 percent said they agree that a hypersensitivity reaction to metal could result in the failure of an implanted device, requiring removal.
2. However, 30.5 percent of respondents said they do not agree that a metal allergy results in the failure of an implanted device.
3. Eighty-seven percent of respondents said that in the case of a suspected metal allergy, the patient should be referred to an allergist.
4. Yet, 45.7 percent of respondents said they would refer a patient to a dermatologist if they found a suspected metal allergy.
5. To determine metal hypersensitivity, 91.3 percent of respondents said lymphocyte transformation testing is not useful or respondents were not familiar with this testing.
“There is a need for consensus-building across specialties, particularly allergy and dermatology with orthopedics,” said Karin Pacheco, MD, from National Jewish Health in Denver.
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