hip implant material

Hi

never heard of a big ball-they tend to be called cups.I am 49 and had a none cemented ceramic hip replacement due to my age-allows for more movement as it is not cemented in.

Hiya, I was diagnosed as needing a hip replacement at 45 years old, but due to not being in pain it still has not been done 5 years later!!!

So I've had a long time to follow forums and look at the options. It does look like, due to your age, you are likely to get a ceramic hip. These are hopefully much longer lasting because although they are not cemented in (glued to you bone), your bone will naturally grow onto them and make a better fit. The ball size is larger than the natural hip ball was because this is an engineered fit and is made to be as strong as possible, your natural hip has evolved from an animal that ran on all fours. The engineered fit should be a much better joint!

It does not matter so much about the composition of the other half of the joint, it's the metal on metal wear that the surgeon wants to stop happening. No more small iron fillings moving around your body!

Do not know what country you are in, but if in the UK, like me, you can trust the NHS Dr's will only operate for your benefit. It is an expensive operation, they do not want to do it again later and will only operate when necessary. I trust my Dr's totally and will go with what they say is the best at all times, they are doing the job to help humanity; if they wanted to be rich they would be doing plastic surgery for massive payments elsewhere!

Best of luck, keep us posted, and keep up the exercises.

I relied on consultants advice-ceramic on ceramic is gold standard !

I have ceramic on plastic because I have more allergies than the flippin allergy clinic. My surgeon said I'm lucky as it's normally only fitted in younger people (I was 53) felt quite honoured haha. So I would say if you have the choice definitely don't go for the metal. Good luck

Hi,

I am 48 and had a THR 6 weeks ago. I told my surgeon that I want to go back to running. He said a ceramic on ceramic would be the most durable, so that is what he did. So far so good. Goodluck.

With respect to implant materials.  Here is what I found, and you can't leave this to your doctor.  You are responsible and you have to live with your choice, not the doctor.   In Canada, we have to sign a release taking responsibility for everything except negligence and they would even make that our responsibility if they could.

1)  Ceramic on ceramic has the lowest wear, it should last the longest.  The German Ceramtec make the Biolox delta ceramic balls and cups.  Many manufacturers of joints use them. (Make sure)  They don't shatter anymore.  It was about 3 % , now it is less. Even on the older ceramic that was still a 97 % chance of no problem.  And the problem was often attributed to other reasons like a poor fit or instability caused by placement.  It has to line up properly.  Using plastic gives Doctors the opportunity to get away with misalignment issues  Some manufacturers like Stryker have a problem with squeeks when you walk.  This is a result of metal resonance in the design.  Other problems derive from the skill or lack thereof of the surgeon, and how stable the joint is. A poor fit will cause the ball to slide in and out of the cup and you can hear that when walking.  This is also not a fault of the ceramic.  The ceramic is inert in your body.

2)  Metal on Plastic causes wear particles of metal and plastic and the amount with each step is incredible.  The metal ions of cobalt and chromium in your cells and blood stream can cause pseudo tumors, bone loss and loosening of the metal parts in your femur and pelvis.  There are long term effects that have not even been studied yet.  I think that they are hoping that we will die before those problems surface. The metal and plastic are not inert in your body.  

3)  Metal on Metal is a NO.  There are thousands people in Australia with pain and sufferring from those devices.

4)  Oxinium is metal ball that is oxidized to produce a long wearing ceramic coating.  So far, I have found that oxinium is not inert in the body.   

But, you must check out what I have said to make sure for yourself that you can make an informed decision, that you can live with.

My last comment for you is to get the doctor to demonstrate on your leg where the incision will be.  If it is on the front, they don't cut muscle, they simply spread the muscle apart from its neighbour with very little damage.  It is called anterior approach.  Dislocation risk is reduced significantly.  If it is on the side of your hip (posterior approach) they cut through muscle and that makes your leg unstable to start with, so dislocation risk is increased.

My operation will be in late spring.  I have chosen anterior and ceramic on ceramic as the least harmful approach short of a miraculous healing.  Hope this helps. Educate yourself!  

In British Columbia the cost to me, the patient is $1750 CAN, for ceramic.  They'll give me the metal on plastic free, but even as a gift that is too expensive. 

  

Hi, am 43 yrs old, my operation on 5th April.  Doctor recommended me ceramic on ceramic because of its long life span and i trust his choice