Patients who have Metal-on-Metal (MoM) hip implants face several possible risks like osteolysis because of their implant, medical industry observers say. Periprosthetic lesions are still a problem that most surgeons are unable to avoid even with the number of advancements in hip replacement surgeries, according to an article from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). The rate of hip implant wear and tear contributes to the occurrence of bone resorption or osteolysis. The problem with hip implant wear and tear led to the development of the MoM implants, although there were several Biomet hip lawsuits because of the problems caused by the implants, as verbalized by some patients.


There have been many improvements that were made in the materials and designs of prosthesis that made it possible to decrease the number of cases related to osteolysis. Osteolysis is the loss of calcium in the bones causing the bones to become brittle and prone to fractures. In severe cases, the damage may also spread to the muscles. There were incidences when the patient had to undergo a secondary revision surgery to remove the damaged area to prevent it from spreading to other areas. High-risk patients are carefully monitored by health care providers.


The following are risk factors for implant wear and tear:

-       Age – patients who are older are at risk of developing osteolysis if they are suffering from osteoporosis.

-       Athletes – those who use their joints for running or jumping add stress the implant.

-   Obesity – high body mass index may add stress to the joints and increases the occurrence of misalignment during surgery.


There are surgical and non-surgical ways to treat osteolysis and it depends on the severity of the problem. The extent of the damage of bone loss dictates the treatment plan for men and women who develop osteolysis. Medications may be used to treat the smaller lesions, however some people may not always show any symptoms. If the problem is not treated by medications, the surgeons need to surgically remove the all wear debris and restore the bone stock when needed, according to the experts from AAOS. The source of the wear particles need to be taken out during the surgery as might cause more problems. Researches are being made to discover other ways to prevent the osteolysis. Patients who feel that their implants caused the problem asked for the assistance of a Biomet hip lawyer.

 


URL References:

aaos.org/news/aaosnow/feb08/clinical5.asp

drugs.com/cg/osteolysis.html

medscape.org/viewarticle/420395

A total hip replacement operation helps those who have problems with their hip by replacing the damaged hip joint, health care providers say, although there are several possible risks after the operation like dislocation. One of the most common complication of total hip replacement is dislodgment in spite of the increasing knowledge gained in performing this procedure, according to an article published in the Indian Journal of Orthopaedics. Several factors come into play such as the gender and age of individuals that increases the chance of the ball going out of the socket, which often happens during the first few months after the hip operation.


For patients who have had the operation, the disarticulation of the hip joint is the first problem that they may encounter but it remains to be underreported because of inadequate investigation. Putting the operated hip in extreme positions like flexing it will rotate the hip. If the disarticulation does not produce any discomfort or limitation, patients may not be able to detect and report the problem, according to a research published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports. Activities of daily living are taught to patients in order for them to use their new hip properly and avoid dislocating it.


Researches were conducted to gain knowledge in preventing the incidences of hip displacement among men and women who have undergone the hip implant operation. The use of a bigger femoral head like a 36-mm articulation was found to have better results compared to a 28-mm articulation, as stated in the article from the Medscape Today News. The result corresponds to previous results from other studies. Individuals who have undergone the posterior approach in hip replacement surgery were at higher risk of dislocation, as found by researchers.


All other options need to be considered by patients before undergoing the procedure. The displacement is often remedied by a closed reduction operation in some cases. However, if the problem persists, the surgeon may recommend a revision surgery. The lives of patients who have undergone repeated surgery to correct the problem have been greatly affected. Some cases were even represented by a Biomet lawyer.


URL References:
jmedicalcasereports.com/content/3/1/8956
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2254669/
medscape.com/viewarticle/589084
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2739467/