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Metal-metal THR's

Posted , 5 users are following.

colinTN17
colinTN17

It would appear that metal -metal THR's can cause problems when tiny pieces of cobalt are released into the bloodstream and that patients who have had this type of replacement should have blood tests to find out the level of Co in their system. One would assume that metal-metal is no longer used so shouldn't affect any of us more recent hi poppers

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • renee01952
    renee01952 colinTN17

    Posted

    Hi colin, thank you for posting this -

    I think I have metal-metal too but was told that there was "plastic" (??) in between - so not really metal-on-metal???? and I was not to worry ....hmmmmmm neutral

    • annedi
      annedi renee01952

      Posted

      My first one 15 years ago was metal/metal with plastic liner. There is now some wear to the plastic so I was told it would have to be watched but that it could last years! I don't know if you can tell if the plastic wears and the metal touches - maybe if the plastic wears it just feels looser - I should have asked!
    • colinTN17
      colinTN17 annedi

      Posted

      I stand to be corrected but as far as I know metal metal means that the ball and liner are both metal. You may be thinking that the metal metal is actually the alloy of cobalt chrome molybdenum alloy. The liner would be made probably from a high density polyolefine so you shouldn't have the metal metal problem. Best to ask for sure though
    • annedi
      annedi colinTN17

      Posted

      The NHS website talks about the ones  purely metal on metal and particularly large head ones (head of femur +36mm) the problem being the metal wearing away so not the ones with liners or smaller metal/metal ones
    • annedi
      annedi

      Posted

      PS - the plastic liners are eventually worn away by the action of the metal - the revision then just involves the replacement of the liner.
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