Orthopaedic Implants
Intraoperative photo of a total knee replacement (TKR) A selection of orthopaedic implants
at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge (Photo credit: Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge)
passenger may take one person to 3. patients are unaware of, and are The authors of this report are:
accompany them and a chaperone is also anxious about, security procedures From Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK:
provided by the BAA. At no time during the Mr Iain McNamara MRCS,
search is skin exposed and surgical scars 4. patients would welcome some form Specialist Registrar, Trauma and Orthopaedics
are not sought. In contrast to U.S. policy, of implant documentation Miss Dimitra Leivadiotou MRCS
the BAA does not require documentation Clinical Fellow, Trauma and Orthopaedics
relating to metal implants as this will not 5. passengers should expect Mr Jai Chitnavis FRCS Trauma and
alter their screening procedures. differences in screening procedures Orthopaedics
in different countries Consultant, Trauma and Orthopaedics
On the basis of this study we can make the And, from British Airports Authority:
following observations about passengers 6. large metal implants currently used Mr N. Cole
travelling through airport security: in trauma surgery escape detection. Head of Terminal,Stansted Airport
Source of the work and full address:
1. patients with total knee replacements As the number of air travellers with Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road,
are likely to activate airport scanners, orthopaedic implants increases (6-8), we Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom.
propose that international guidelines must imcnamara@doctors.org.uk
2. patients are not being warned about be developed to manage passengers with Telephone: +44 7729 841663
possible implant detection metallic implants. Fax: +44 1223 214094
References
1. Basu P, Packer GJ, Himstedt J. Detection of 5. Pearson WG, Matthews LS. Airport in vivo by enhanced sensitivity walk through
orthopaedic implants by airport metal detection of modern orthopaedic implant metal detectors. J Bone Joint Surg [Am].
detectors. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 1997;79- metals. Clin. Orthop. 280:261-262, 1992 2007;89:742-6
B:388-389 6. Kurtz S, Ong k, Lau E, Mowat F, Halpern M. 11. American Academy of Orthopaedic
2. Blumann E, Tankson C, Myerson M, Jeng C. Projections of primary and revision hip and Surgeons. Travellers with implants face
Detection of orthopaedic foot and ankle knee arthroplasty in the United States from increased scrutiny from airport security.
implants by security screening devices. Foot 2005 to 2030. J Bone Joint Surg [Am]. www6.aaos.org/news/Pemr/archive_
and ankle international 2006;27,12:1096 - 2007;89-A:780-5 year.cfm?archiveyear=2004.
1102 7. www.njrcentre.org.uk/ (Accessed (Accessed 19/04/07)
3. Evans S, Ferris B. Airport metal detectors 19/04/07) 12. Transportation Security Administration.
and orthopaedic implants. The responses 8. www.iata.org accessed (19/04/07) Travellers with disabilities and medical
of arch and held devices. Acta Orthop 9. Kamineni S, Legge S, Ware H. Metallic conditions. Medical and assistive devices:
Scand. 1993;64:643-644 orthopaedic implants and airport metal pacemaker, defibrillator, other implanted
4. Grohs JG, Gottsauner-Wolf F. Detection of detectors. J. arthroplasty 2002;17:62-65 medical devices, and metal implants.
orthopaedic prostheses at airport security 10. Ramirez MA, Rodriguez, EK Zurakowski D. www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/
checks. J Bone and Joint Surg [Br] Richardson LC. Walk-Through metal specialneeds/editorial_1370.shtm#5.
1997;79-B:385-387.. detectors detection of orthopaedic implants (Accessed19/04/07)
28 December 2007 Aviationsecurityinternational
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