Potential Adverse Effects Associated with Hip Replacement

Many people undergo hip replacement surgery all around the globe. The hip replacement systems utilized in such surgical procedures 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. Federal health regulators, however, have doubts concerning the safety of these devices.


As hip replacement grows in popularity, reports of complications linked to the devices used in the surgeries have surfaced. Based on reports, one out of ten hip replacement patients encounter some form of complication after their surgery. Frequently reported problems of hip replacement are listed below:

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 particular complication frequently happens in about 10 to 15 years after hip replacement surgery.

Dislocation of the hip joint – According to statistics, in one out of twenty hip replacement procedures, the device accidentally pops out of its socket. This problem commonly happens months after the procedure, at which time the hip will still be in the process of recovering.


Along with the above common complications, there have been reports of severe adverse effects associated with MoM hip devices. Below is a list of some major adverse effects related to hip replacement:

Blood clots – This complication may potentially transpire a couple of weeks after hip replacement surgery. The blood clots can be found inside the leg or lung of hip replacement patients. According to medical experts, a clot formation in the patients’ leg is recognized as deep vein thrombosis, while the one that forms within the lung is termed pulmonary embolism. These medical conditions may lead to fatal consequences.

Infection – When germs contaminate the tissue that surrounds the hip prosthesis, infection may occur.


Hip Devices are Recalled Following Reports of Complications

A number of large hip manufacturing companies have withdrawn their hip systems from the market over the past several years. Amongst such companies is DePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

The firm recalled its MoM ASR XL Acetabular and hip resurfacing systems after an increasing number of adverse effect reports surfaced. 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