Metal-on-metal hip implants are devices designed to replace the ball and socket in the hip joint to facilitate painless and functional mobility. Walking remains the body’s most important function for survival and productivity. However, as men and women increase in age, the hip joint deteriorates. When the hip and thigh bones are not working smoothly together any more, discomfort is unavoidable and causes pain and stiffness. The worst that may happen is for the patient to develop a walking disability that cannot be alleviated through medications, physical therapy and a restorative exercise regimen. For this reason the invention of hip replacements becomes a breakthrough in medical technology that should address this problem. No longer do patients have to resign themselves into immobility after a hip joint malfunction. But, like all other medical procedures and products, there are possible dangers in using metal-on-metal hip implants.
While hip implant systems work well and are designed to have low levels of wear and tear, there have been reported cases of itheir metal component being susceptible to premature corrosion and fretting. When this happens, the released debris (metallic shards) may affect the nearby tissues, thereby causing adverse reactions such as pain and swelling. The bloodstream also becomes unsafe from these toxic metal particles, making it prone to tumors. The health dangers of these metal ions, if prolonged and untreated, could affect the nervous system, the heart and the thyroid gland where all vital functions of the body are regulated and controlled.
One important thing to know is that, in the process of manufacturing a product that is supposed to facilitate healing or improve one’s condition, there really are instances in which lapses are unavoidable such as in the quality of the product in terms of material wear. Indeed, it is very important for a patient like you to know as much as you can about the type of hip implant that you or a cared for individual would be getting, especially if it is permanent and not removable. You want to know what kind of material it will be made of and how long it should last inside your body. It is also wise and helpful to check if you are allergic to the material. Make sure that you are doing this procedure with an experienced doctor. You may also want to know what the symptoms are and which would tell you that the implant is not functioning properly so that you will be prepared should this happen. Prevention is always better than being at the receiving end of a painful damage as experienced by the patients that caused the Stryker hip recall.
URLS:
fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/MetalonMetalHipImplants/ucm241604.htm
Hip Problems and Symptoms Information 