Failure Rate of Metal Hip Replacements Alarms Canada

Hip replacements made only of metal supposedly last longer than normal hip implants, but recently, another manufacturer recalled a liner used in metallic hips. A British-based company, Smith & Nephew, announced that the clinical results of metallic hips were unsatisfactory. It was one among four companies to have issued a recall since the mid-2000 debut of metal-on-metal hip replacements.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration intends to review the hip implant to determine how safe the device is for patients. In comparison to the standard metal-and-plastic hip devices, studies show that metal-on-metal hip replacements have a higher failure rate and are more likely to damage tissues around the joint. Therefore, Complaints against the manufacturers of metallic hip implants are growing.

Health And Consumer Organizations Remain Skeptical

Even after the approval of metal-on-metal hip devices, government and consumer organizations remain in doubt. Health Canada published a safety announcement in April, warning people that the device may come loose, cause pain, and damage tissues. The agency pointed out that patients who experience pain and have damaged tissues showing on the MRI must have the implants removed immediately.

Meanwhile, the FDA voiced its concerns on metallic hip replacements, warning patients that friction between the metal components of the device may release small metal particles that could damage surrounding tissues. Moreover, the FDA states that particles might enter the bloodstream and cause metal poisoning.

Effects On Canada

Thousands of Canadians were implanted with the metal-on-metal replacement hip devices. Some had their implants removed while others are allegedly having problems with their metallic hip replacements.

Frank Cristo, a man who underwent implant surgery a few years ago, mentioned that he experienced escalating pain. Thus, he decided to have his metal-on-metal hips replaced. “I was told metal-on-metal was supposed to be the best,” he said. “I was good for the first month or so then I started feeling pain all the time.”

One in every one hundred patients who has metal-on-metal hips develops swelling and pain. According to a research in Canada, a few patients developed tumor-like lesions that seriously damaged their muscles and tissues. Some patients may have filed hip replacement lawsuits for the damages they have suffered.

Doubt On Health Authorities

A study shows that two out of twenty two metal hips implanted in Canadian patients failed. The person who helped organize the study and is also the previous president of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association, Dr. Ross Leighton, assumes that the metal-on-metal hip replacements were not thoroughly studied before its approval.