While total hip arthroplasties are among the most commonly performed surgeries in the United States, as with any major surgery, complications can arise. If you experience unexplainable pain or recurrent dislocations after total hip arthroplasty surgery, talk with your physician, as this could be the result of taper corrosion. Though an infrequent complication, it is a serious diagnosis.

According to, Tad M. Mabry, MD, taper corrosion has only recently come to light as an etiology for failure of total hip arthroplasty. The key to diagnosis is a high index of suspicion. Both infection and taper corrosion must be considered and individually evaluated any time a patient with a THA containing a modular CoCr junction presents with symptoms. Patients diagnosed with ALTR should proceed to early revision to minimize ongoing periarticular injury. Read the full clinical summary to learn more: https://jbjs.org/summary.php?id=260.