Clin Orthop Surg.  2017 Jun;9(2):153-159. 10.4055/cios.2017.9.2.153.

The Need for an Implant Identification Card at Airport Security Check

• Ali E
• Kosuge D
• MacDowell

• KMID: 2412282
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/cios.2017.9.2.153

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Joint replacement surgery is having an increasing demand as national healthcare systems confront an ever ageing population. Surgical complications associated with lower limb arthroplasty are well known but less investigation has been performed examining its effect on air travel, more specifically, unwanted and significant inconvenience caused to travelers going through airport security.
METHODS
In lower limb arthroplasty clinics, 50 patients who met our selection criteria were given questionnaires. Ten airport security officers from 4 international airports (London Stansted, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, and Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport) were also given a separate questionnaire. The opinion of the Civil Aviation Authority was also sought.
RESULTS
All 50 patients (mean age, 70.4 years; range, 55 to 84 years) who were presenting in lower limb arthroplasty clinics and who met our selection criteria volunteered to enter the study. Twenty-eight of these patients were female (mean age, 69.1 years; range, 55 to 84 years) and 22 were male (mean age, 71.2 years; range, 58 to 81 years). Of the patients, 14% stated that their joint replacements did not set off the airport security alarm. Responses were received from 10 airport security officers as well. Six airport security officers were male and 4 were female. All of the airport officers were aware of some form of implant identification card with 90% stating that these were useful to them at airport security. Eight-four percent of the patients stated that an implant identification card outlining what joint replacement they possessed and when this had been done would be very useful. Sixteen percent of the patients did not think a card would be beneficial since all of them had set off the airport alarm system only once or less in their lifetime.
CONCLUSIONS
It is the opinion of airport security officers and patients that joint replacement implant identification cards streamline airport security checks and decrease the need for more invasive searches at airport security.

Keyword

Joint; Hip arthroplasty; Knee arthroplasty; Security measures; Travel and aviation

MeSH Terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
*Airports
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
*Joint Prosthesis
Male
Middle Aged
Security Measures/*standards
Surveys and Questionnaires
*Travel

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Flow diagram demonstrating the pathway through which questions were asked on the patient questionnaire. The data acquired is also shown.

• 

  Fig. 2 Bar chart of question 10: How long did this delay you by? Six stated the additional security checking delayed their time at airport security by 0–5 minutes, 2 by 5–10 minutes, 10 by 10–15 minutes, and 25 by greater than 15 minutes.

Reference

1. Obremskey WT, Austin T, Crosby C, et al. Detection of orthopaedic implants by airport metal detectors. J Orthop Trauma. 2007; 21(2):129–132. PMID: 17304069.

2. Pearson WG, Matthews LS. Airport detection of modern orthopedic implant metals. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1992; (280):261–262.

3. Lee AJ, Jacobson SH. Identifying changing aviation threat environments within an adaptive Homeland Security Advisory System. Risk Anal. 2012; 32(2):319–329. PMID: 21801188.

4. Abbassian A, Datla B, Brooks RA. Detection of orthopaedic implants by airport metal detectors. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2007; 89(3):285–287. PMID: 17394716.

5. Beaupre GS. Airport detection of modern orthopedic implant metals. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1994; (303):291–292.

6. Boivin W, Coletta J, Kerr L. Characterization of the magnetic fields around walk-through and hand-held metal detectors. Health Phys. 2003; 84(5):582–593. PMID: 12747477.