All-metal Hip Devices: What Patients Need to Know
Hip joint replacement implants, also known as artificial hips, are used to replace damaged hip joints to improve mobility, joint function, and range of motion for patients, according to orthopedic experts. First introduced in the 1960s, prosthetic hip implants have been reportedly considered as one of the notable medical breakthroughs and have been reportedly used in more than 285,000 hip replacement proecedures in the United States annually. However, just like other treatments, these medical devices also bear distinct health risks. Allmetal implants, in particular, have been reported to cause serious complications which may have prompted some the most prominent recalls in the United States, including the DePuy ASR metal-on-metal hip systems recall. The DePuy hip replacement recall was not the only product pull-backs conducted in the country. Big names in the medical device industry have also issued a recall or decided to halt the sales of some of their all-metal hip implants stirring up discussions and concerns among experts, consumer advocates, and the public. One of the major concerns that reportedly led to some of the most-well known hip produce recalls in the country may have been instigated by increasing numbers of device failure rates. Some of the most common warning signs that may indicate a possible implant failure implant may include: hip, thigh or groin pain; pain while walking, rising from a seated position, or while bearing weight; swelling; discomfort, dislocation, and clicking sounds caused by
grinding between the ball and socket; reduced range of motion; and bone loss (resorption) from inflammation. In July 2012, a review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a group of experts reportedly revealed that the benefits of metal-onmetal hip implants may be outweighed by their potential risks. A group of 18 experts reported scientific indications that they are more likely to break down some time after implantation, exposing patients to dangerous levels of toxic metals. Additionally, the agency also issued an updated information that claims that metal-on-mental hip implants can cause soft-tissue damage and pain, online media reports. This in turn may bring about pain, result to the loosening of the implant, or even device failure, which could possibly lead to further surgery to replace the implant. Some of the metal ions released may also find its way into the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body, causing unwanted health problems. Patients are advised to thoroughly discuss the benefits and risks associated with metal-on-metal hip implants and talk to their surgeons about other possible options for surgery. Visit depuyhiprecall.us if you wish to know more about safety issues surrounding DePuy’s all-metal hip implants. Sources: *orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00233 *ehealthmd.com/content/when-hip-replacementneeded#axzz2NcxAB1Pf *nytimes.com/2010/08/27/business/27hip.html?_r=0 *medicalnewstoday.com/articles/255083.php *reuters.com/article/2013/01/17/us-fda-hipsidUSBRE90G0W520130117 *fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm335775.htm *medicalnewstoday.com/articles/247294.php *osteoarthritis.about.com/od/osteoarthritistreatments/a/hip_revision.htm