Clinical guidelines on the use of biomarkers for surveillance of hip replacements

Hip replacement surgery is one of the most successful operations performed today in terms of clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness. As the population ages and the surgery is increasingly indicated for younger and more active patients or those with complex hip pathology, the need for robust long-term surveillance has become more important. For some device types, diagnostic biomarkers can allow earlier detection of a failing implant. This chapter details how current guidelines from regulatory bodies have incorporated biomarker research into clinical practice, focusing on the monitoring of patients with metal hips and those with suspected periprosthetic joint infection.