Medical journals in different countries say that metal-on-metal hip replacement implants are reputed to be one of the best options when it comes to diseased hips. Actually, hip replacement surgery is reputed to be one of the best options. However, things may have taken a different turn because Democrats and Republicans are nowexamining metal-based hip replacement implant’s safety.

Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Implants

The United States market have had these metal-on-metal hip replacement implants ever since 2002. The popularity of these metal-on-metal hip replacement implants has a lot to do with bcoming substitutes for hip replacement implants as those with plastic liners were reported to be complications-bound. As there had been a lot of horror stories about the earlier plastic versions, people were simply happy when these metal-on-metal hip replacement implants were approved in the U.S. market. Although it has the potential risk of loosening up from daily use, it has been reported in newspapers that this kind of artificial hips can last a lifetime. We can see the potential greatness of this kind of implant and the recent negative feedback about them was quite shocking.

Questions Regarding the Safety of Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Implants

People may say that safety concerns over metal-on-metal hip replacements may arise because of the coming of ceramic hip replacement devices. Of course, we can see some truth to this. However, there is another basis why the safety of metal-on-metal hip replacement implants is in question.

Around August 2010, a metal-on-metal hip replacement implant manufactured by DePuy Orthopaedics, named the ASR XL Acetabular hip replacement system, was recalled from the market because reports say they were defective. And even before the implant was recalled, a lot of people have been filing complaints and lawsuits because they have experienced complications arising from this particular hip implant. Even though people have been happy that a recall happened, they still believe that it happened too late. Right now, DePuy Orthopaedics is slowly getting a bad name for their another hip replacement product. This product is the so called DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement system. According to several reports, this hip replacement system is causing complications, such as implant loosening and metallosis. This can be attributed to the fact that there is an increase of people filing for a DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement lawsuit.

References:
hipsforyou.com/totalhipreplacement.php
orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00355
democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Letter_EPA_10.12.11.pdf