The Influence of the Type of Metal-on-Metal Hip Endoprosthesis on the Clinical, Biochemical, and Oxidative Balance Status—A Comparison of Resurfacing and Metaphyseal Implants

<b>Introduction:</b> Despite the increasingly rare use of metal-on-metal articulation, in many countries, there is a large group of patients after hip arthroplasty using this method. The operation of the dysfunctional hip joint using metal-on-metal articulation can be performed by resurfacing or total, stemmed arthroplasty. The aim of this study was to compare the metaphyseal and resurfacing methods in metal-on-metal articulation and its impact on clinical status and variability of oxidative stress parameters, as well as the concentration of chromium and cobalt ions in blood. <b>Materials and methods:</b> The first group operated using BHR (Smith & Nephew) and Biomet ReCap-Magnum metal-on-metal hip resurfacing implants. The second group operated using Biomet ReCap-Magnum with a Microplasty metaphyseal stem. Two clinical evaluations were conducted in each patient with the use of SF-12, HHS, and WOMAC-hip examination scale systems. The concentrations of metal ions in blood and their impacts on the antioxidant system were also determined twice using various oxidative stress markers. <b>Results:</b> The study included 61 males. The mean values of the Cr (<i>p</i> = 0.019) and Co (<i>p</i> = 0.009) ion concentrations were higher in patients after resurfacing arthroplasty. A higher intensity of oxidative stress (activities of sulphydryl groups, malondialdehyde, and lipofuscin) was observed in the resurfacing group compared with the metaphyseal group. <b>Conclusions:</b> The resurfacing hip implant in the metal-on-metal articulation, to a greater extent than the metaphyseal one, elevates the concentration of Cr and Co ions in the blood and is associated with oxidative stress and the functioning of the antioxidant system.