Hip arthroplasty is prevalent among the general public, young and old included. The artificial hips implanted in patients undergoing such a procedure are made of either plastic, ceramic, or metal. Among the hip designs out in the market, however, hip producers assure the public that metal-on-metal (MoM) hip devices are unsurpassed in terms of durability and range of motion. All the same, the safety of said hip devices has been frequently questioned by health regulators.
With the increasing acceptance of hip arthroplasty, more than a few complications have been associated with the implants used in these procedures. Reports say one out of ten hip replacement operations run into issues that lead to the failure of the hip implant used. The adverse effects listed below are the most frequently reported ones among hip replacement patients:
Loosening of the hip device – Patients may suffer from this complication if the bone that surrounds his or her hip device deteriorates. Moreover, this problem may also arise if the shaft of the hip device loosens in the hollow of the thigh bone. This a common complication that usually occurs 10 to 15 years following the initial procedure.
Dislocation of the hip joint – Statistics indicates that five percent of hip replacement operations end up with this problem. This problem commonly happens months after the procedure, at which time the hip will still be in the process of recovering.
Aside from the aforementioned complications, there have been accounts of patients suffering from serious MoM hip replacement adverse effects. Some severe complications that has been linked to MoM hip devices include:
Blood clots – This adverse effect may become apparent weeks after hip replacement. Blood clots may either develop in the leg of patients, or in the interior of their lungs. A clot formation in the leg, according to medical specialists, is identified as deep vein thrombosis, and clot in the lung is called pulmonary embolism. These medical conditions may lead to fatal consequences.
Infection – When bacteria succeed on reaching the tissue nearby the hip implant, infection may transpire.
Medical Manufacturing Companies Recall Hip Devices after Reported Complications Surfaced
More than a few prestigious firms have recalled their hip replacement systems over the years. Amongst such companies is DePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.
DePuy’s popular ASR XL Acetabular and hip resurfacing systems were withdrawn from the market after the company was informed about the high number of reported complications. Parenthetically, most of the previously recalled implants are MoM.
nhs.uk/Conditions/Hip-replacement/Pages/Complications.aspx
mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hip-replacement-surgery/basics/risks/PRC-20019151
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