Possible Complications Linked to Hip Replacement

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

Gingivitis Linked to People Suffering From Several Forms of Arthritis?

Several people who have gingivitis are being suspected of suffering from several forms of  arthritis, medical experts say.  Its variants may include osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis causedby inflammation, breakdown, and the eventual loss of cartilage in the joints. The cartilage wears down over time. If this happens, especially on the hip, the person is most likely advised to undergo hip replacement. Unfortunately, however,  two of  the artificial hip models by Depuy Orthopedics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, had been recalled due to DePuy ASR hips failures in recipient more often than expected.

From several research it was discovered that the gum disease is four times as common among patients who have the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis as it is among their healthy peers, and it is also more severe, according to medindia.net

The study was based on their findings on 91 adults with incorrigible rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a comparison group of 93 healthy people, who were matched for age and sex.

Out of 112 patients examined, including 89 men and 23 women, all recovered full range of motion within six months of surgery, with functional and physical results similar in the two test groups. While ACL surgeries provide these improvements, an estimated 50 percent of patients develop osteoarthritis over time. Different surgical procedures are continually debated as being more or less effective. 

Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums which commonly occurs when the films of bacteria,known as plaque, form around the teeth of person. It  is a non-destructive type of periodontal disease. If left untreated, gingivitis may progress to periodontitis, which is more serious and can eventually lead to loss of teeth.

Meanwhile, osteoarthritis is more common among females than males, especially after the age of 50 years. It develops in people aged over 40. Younger people may also be affected, usually after an injury or as a result of another joint condition. 

Some people say that osteoarthritis is an inevitable part of ageing. This is untrue. There are people well into their 90s who have no clinical or functional signs of the disease. For this reason it is important to  know information about how  several types of arthritis which may lead to hip replacement and how it was recalled in 2010, You may check The DePuy Hip Recall Center.

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umm.edu/patiented/articles/gingivitis_000438.htm