Oxinium

Hi Richard, it's supposed to have the benefit of ceramic but with the strength of metal. I have only found the link to the problem with damage after dislocation. Do you have any links about a recall? 

Thanks

ann

Yep...when I read this report before responding to Annie's posting of yesterday the alarm bells started to ring for me. Far too much unsettling stuff about this company for my liking to want one of their products inside me<G>

Cheers

Richard

Annie, 

I find it hard to believe that your surgeon will use prothesis that were recalled ... Unfortunately we don't know how they will affect our body in the long run - 

Maybe have another appointment with your surgeon and  have him explain to you why he will be using this particular brand ..take someone with you and maybe you can record the discussion ...

Don't even think about wheel chairs and such ---

keep us posted, okay ... have faith

angel blessings

Hi Renee, I think the recall was to do with knee prosthesis that were the wrong size at manufacture not hips and not to do with the Oxonian coating. This type of hip prosthesis has been in use for over 10 years so it's not like something very new. I'm just worried about follow up afterwards in case something was to go wrong. From what I'm reading all types of prosthesis can have serious issues. It's a bit of a mine field. It's putting me off having the operation at all! Maybe I'm better off with a restricted life. My hip hurts, I limp and I can't walk very far but I can still get around albeit slowly. My late mum had both her hips replaced in her sixties and one revised in her eighties. And survived to almost 90. She did fine but wasn't as active as I am. I wonder which prosthesis she had. She probably didn't even ask. Too much knowledge is not always best I guess. 

Cheers

Ann

Dear Annie

I think if you look again the recall was for a hip prosthesis. Actually you will find that there have been a number of recalls over the years from various manufacturers   If you Google this you may find the following interesting.   Artificial hip lawsuits what you need to know Clay Hodges.

I've just checked up on the prosthesis that I had twenty years ago and which was replaced with the same this year and here are the details:

Acetabular component was a Mallory ringloc and the Femoal component was a Taprloc both made by Biomet Zimmer.

The surgeon who did the surgery had the reputation of causing a rumpus prior to my surgery as he was not prepared to accept the health authorities directive to use a certain cheaper system.   He handed in his notice and moved to the health authority in south Wales were I lived and this is largely why I chose to have him do my surgery as I felt that he would use the prosthesis he thought was the best at the time and was prepared to put his job on the line.

My hip lasted twenty years doing things that many would think lets call it "ambitious"!  My revision this year used the same but slightly larger components, and as my original surgeon was retiring and I had moved from Wales to Hampshire in the UK,  I looked for a surgeon skilled in revisions.   Would you believe it the man I choose turned out to have been trained by my original surgeon about twenty-five years  previously...small world!

My revision recovery has been excellent I'm happy to report.

Cheers

Richard

Dear Annie

I really do not think you should be even considering not having your hip surgery done but just make sure that your surgeon is really experienced and avoid a prosthesis that has been used for less than ten years. You are having your life restricted by your hip and sadly it can only get worse and it has been shown that it can quickly go from what you are experiencing to a much more painful state very rapidly and then it is less likely that the surgery will be as successful.  Certainly the best recoveries seem to be for people in good physical condition who have a good level of fitness and muscle strength to support their walking.

People die in car crashes every day as we all know but that does not stop people getting in one and that probably includes you.....just make sure the driver is experienced<BG> For most people hip replacement surgery is very successful and they return to full mobility in a few months.   I had my first one at 55yrs old and my revision at 76. and at eight weeks full weight bearing am fully mobile and living a normal life.   In both cases it was a quick and easy recovery.  I'm still observing the 90 degree rule and doing my exercises just to make sure of it as dislocation is still a possibility and good muscle strength around the hip joint is important.

Good luck with your decision.

Cheers

Richard

Thanks Sara, the surgeon I'm with is very experienced and specialised in younger patients too so I think he uses Oxinium for the same reasons as yours. It's not just one case with the dislocation issue. There are several where damage happened without dislocation. There is one case (Cassar-Gheiti is one of the authors)  where at 10 years it was noticed that the polyethylene liner was wearing out. It was followed up again 6 months later and the zirconium particles that had resulted from the oxinium head rubbing against the metal cup destroyed the bone very rapidly and catastrophically within those 6 months. If I do go for the oxinium prosthesis I would want regular follow up. Has your surgeon offered follow up for you? Just wonder how this potentially dangerous issue is managed. I like the idea of the durability but am a bit worried about potential drawbacks in years to come. But as you point out there are issues with every device it's more about managing risk. 

Best Wishes

Ann

How much durability does one need? I did heavy building work and farming on my hip for twenty years and have had it revised and expect at least the same..eh that takes me to 95!

Cheers Richard

I'm not sure how to find a surgeon who uses something that would be any better though Richard. I chose this one for his level of experience with more active patients and only just found out that he uses Oxinium. I had never heard of it before. This is my second referral on the NHS because the first person I was referred to was hopeless and very inexperienced at hip replacement according to the njr. I didn't know at that point I needed a hip replacement. I thought I had a labral tear which is what the Physio had said. I can't afford to go private for hip replacement and I have no insurance so it's difficult. I will speak to the surgeon about my concerns and see what he recommends. 

I cannot afford private surgery but to speed up selecting a surgeon I find that the cost of a half hour consultation is about 180 UKP.

Good luck

Richard