Metal Sensitivity Testing: The Insight Driving Safer Implant Selection

Personalised Protection: How Advanced Testing and No-Metal Options Are Transforming Orthopaedic Surgery

Next-generation tests combine genetic and blood analysis to reveal how a patient’s immune system reacts to specific metals.

Metal implants have revolutionised orthopaedics restoring movement, relieving pain, and improving quality of life for millions.But for a small yet significant group of patients, the very materials designed to heal can trigger unexpected immune reactions.

As awareness of metal hypersensitivity grows, clinicians are turning to approved testing standards that identify risk before surgery and clarify causes of unexplained symptoms after. These next-generation tests combine genetic sequencing with blood-based analysis to provide a personalised insight into how each patient’s immune system will respond to specific metal alloys.

Understanding Metal Sensitivity

Nickel, cobalt and chromium are the most common metals found in orthopaedic implants. While usually biocompatible, they can cause hypersensitivity in some patients — leading to inflammation, delayed healing or persistent pain that mimics infection.

Traditional skin patch testing was never designed to replicate the internal environment around a joint implant. Now, clinically validated metal sensitivity tests provide a more accurate picture, measuring genetic and serum-based responses to guide surgical decisions with real precision.

A New Standard in Pre- and Post-Operative Testing

This new generation of testing helps clinicians:

• Predict sensitivity before surgery, using genetic markers to determine risk.

• Diagnose post-operative pain or swelling with confidence.

• Personalise implant choice based on the patient’s biological profile.

By integrating these insights into clinical workflows, surgeons can minimise complications and improve long-term outcomes — selecting implants that truly suit the individual.

Why a No-Metal Approach Matters

For patients with confirmed or suspected hypersensitivity, metal-free implant options like OsteoFab® PEKK are reshaping orthopaedic care.These advanced polymer implants offer the strength and stability required for reconstruction — without the immune risk associated with traditional metal alloys.

A “no-metal” strategy doesn’t just prevent adverse reactions; it represents a broader commitment to precision-based medicine, ensuring each implant is biologically and mechanically suited to the patient.

Real-World Impact

Imagine a patient preparing for joint or wrist surgery who reports skin reactions to jewellery.Until recently, the decision would rely on caution or guesswork. Today, a quick genetic and serum test can confirm their sensitivity, guiding surgeons towards a metal-free alternative and dramatically reducing the likelihood of complications or revision surgery.

The Future of Safer Implant Selection

As precision medicine becomes standard in UK orthopaedics, sensitivity testing is bridging the gap between diagnosis and device design. By combining accurate diagnostics with next-generation materials, clinicians can deliver safer, more predictable outcomes and greater peace of mind for patients.

Sovereign Medical: Supporting Personalised Orthopaedics in the UK

At Sovereign Medical, we are proud to support the growing shift toward personalised, metal-free orthopaedic solutions.Through access to approved hypersensitivity testing and advanced biomaterials such as OsteoFab® PEKK, we help clinicians match every patient with the safest, most compatible implant possible.

From first consultation to recovery our focus is clear, reduce risk, enhance outcomes and redefine safety in orthopaedic surgery.