Tuesday, January 7, 2014

The Possible Risks Relating to 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. All the same, the safety of said hip devices has been frequently questioned by health regulators.


As hip replacement grows in popularity, reports of complications linked to the devices used in the surgeries have surfaced. Reports say one out of ten hip replacement operations run into issues that lead to the failure of the hip implant used. Below is a list of the most regularly reported complications of hip arthroplasty:

Loosening of the hip device – When the bone around the hip replacement device declines, this may occur. 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 – Statistics show that hip implants come out of their sockets in one out of twenty hip replacement cases. This adverse effect usually transpires a couple of months following hip replacement surgery, during which the hip is still recovering.


Besides the above mentioned adverse effects, many reported of serious MoM hip replacement complications. Some severe complications that has been linked to MoM hip devices include:

Blood clots – This complication may potentially transpire a couple of weeks after hip replacement surgery. Blood clots may either develop in the leg of patients, or in the interior of their lungs. A clot formation in the leg, according to medical specialists, is identified as deep vein thrombosis, and clot in the lung is called pulmonary embolism. Both can potentially cause the death of implant patients.

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


Medical Manufacturing Companies Recall Hip Devices after Reported Complications Surfaced

More than a few prestigious firms have recalled their hip replacement systems over the years. One of them is DePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of manufacturing giant Johnson & Johnson.

The firm recalled its MoM ASR XL Acetabular and hip resurfacing systems after an increasing number of adverse effect reports surfaced. Oddly enough, most of the devices recalled are MoM in design.



nhs.uk/Conditions/Hip-replacement/Pages/Complications.aspx
mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hip-replacement-surgery/basics/risks/PRC-20019151

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Why Is Arthritis Common Among Obese?


 Overweight people is prone of getting health problems like developing arthritis, a medical expert says. What usually triggers a person to undergo the divisive hip replacement from DePuy Orthopeadics, a unit of Johnson & Johnson, is the development of Arthritis which is about 10,100 lawsuits were being filed even after it made a recall in 2010. Arthritis has numerous type which has over 100 medical conditions. The Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered as the most frequently complained type of arthritis and usually have an effect on ageing patients. There are various forms of arthritis which may have an effect on people at a very untimely age, the Medical News Today website reports.



Being overweight or obese is one of the most significant and potentially a risk factors in the development of osteoarthritis. There are various researches which revealed a strong connection between body mass index and osteoarthritis of the hip, knee, foot and hand.

However, the mechanism(s) by which obesity contributes to the onset and progression of osteoarthritis are not fully understood.

The strong linked between body mass index, altered limb alignment, and osteoarthritis of the knee –and the defensive effects of weight loss — hold up the classic hypothesis that the effects of obesity on the joint are due to increased bio-mechanical loading and associated alterations in gait.

However, obesity is now considered to be a low-grade systemic inflammatory disease. Current researches advise that metabolic factors associated with obesity alter systemic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines that are also associated with osteoarthritis.

Thus, the final pressure of obesity on osteoarthritis may absorb a complex interaction of genetic, metabolic, and bio-mechanical factors. In this respect, mouse models of obesity can provide excellent systems in which to examine causal relationships among these factors. In recent years, there have been surprisingly few reports examining the effects of obesity on osteoarthritis using mouse models.

It is always best to be mindful of becoming fit and healthy which may help a person prevent a chronic disease such as arthritis, of which the excruciating pain may lead to surgery such as hip replacement and about which remains the subject of several hip replacement. For more related information, please click here.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Weight Gain Is At Risk of Osteoarthritis


It is important for any person to know her or his ideal body weight, which remains the first vital step towards a good health, medical experts say. Inappropriate weight management may develop several lifestyle diseases such as osteoarthritis in which people usually undergo surgery to get rid of the debilitating pain caused by it. Unfortunately, some patients complain that the device is defective and some of them have filed several lawsuits to which the New Jersey state court sets first DePuy ASR hip Implant trial dates.

Researchers have reliably shown that overweight women have four times the risk, and overweight men have five times the risk of developing knee and hip osteoarthritis when compared to their normal body weight.


The knees are considered as the largest joint in the body, and especially vulnerable to arthritis because of the constant load it carries- a person’s weight. Although most people interpret “overweight” to be an obvious and observable weight problem, carrying around even a moderate amount of unnecessary pounds may still run the risk of developing joint pain and osteoarthritis.

This challenging development emerges because for every extra pound of weight that a person carry, he adds three times more pressure on his knees, and six times more pressure to his hips.

Interpreting means that if a person is just 10 pounds above his or her healthy weight, the person is really putting an additional 30 pounds on his or her knees, and 60 pounds on his or her hips.

That is why staying fit through regular work out is highly recommended to keep because not only will exercise help shed, and maintain a person’s ideal weight, it well known also to reduce depression, increase energy, reduce cardiovascular disease, and promote good health in general.

However, a person is advice not to overdo exercising because joint overuse, even without injury, can cause osteoarthritis and joint pain.

Sudden or irregular impacts, such as a person pushing joints too far, or not paying attention to healthy body mechanics such as lifting improperly, or bad posture can all contribute to unnecessary wear and tear, and eventual breakdown of the cartilage in the joints.

It is important to be extra cautious in taking care of ourselves to avoid any risk of developing chronic diseases or encountering fractures and be among those patients suffering from defective hip replacement as some have filed a DePuy hip ASR implant lawsuit.


Image Credit to:
drsharma.ca/osteoarthritis-management-in-obesity.html

URL REFERENCES:
Healthdiscovery.net
bodyecology.com/articles/how-to-avoid-arthritis.php#.UG3WgU3MiXk
thirdage.com/arthritis/how-to-prevent-osteoarthritis-with-a-healthy-diet
osteoarthritis.about.com/od/jointprotection/a/OA_prevention.htm



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