Dr. Tower's academic interest is the mechanical failure of modern hip replacements. He was the first to identify the systemic health impacts of metal-on-metal hips. His research led to the identification of health problems related to cobalt poisoning and the recall of many metal-on-metal devices. Dr. Tower subsequently theorized that hip prosthetics combining cobalt and titanium components cause similar problems due to metal corrosion.

Dr. Tower's research increases awareness of the difficulties that many patients with hip replacements may experience and encourages health care providers to monitor their patients' cobalt levels and health effects to determine the best course of treatment.

If you suspect that you may have elevated cobalt levels from a prior joint replacement surgery, you should first see your primary care provider to have them obtain whole blood and urine cobalt levels. If your primary care provider determines that your levels are of concern, that information can be forwarded to us along with records of your joint replacement surgery, so that we can begin determining the best course of treatment for you.