Hip Joint Research Paper

Words: 2197
Pages: 9

Matthew Potzler
Term Paper
MSE 561

Hip Prostheses
The hip joint is one of the most important joints in the human body. The hip joint is an acetabulofemoral joint or ball and socket joint (Figure 1). The joint is formed between the femoral head and the acetabular cup of the hip, or coxa. The joint is a synovial joint, where the synovial membrane sits between the ball and socket. Figure 1. The femoral head (ball) fits into the acetabular (socket) forming the hip joint allowing for a high degree of freedom. (Image from Hip Joint.)
This membrane secretes a fluid that lubricates the joint and provides nourishment to the articular cartilage. This allows the leg to move freely in almost all directions. It is used to support the weight of the
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The implant failure was due to wear of the polyethylene and osteolysis (Amstutz, 1992.) More recently, different materials that were more durable were used for the insert and femoral head, including ceramics. During the 1990s, metal on metal implants were introduced. The metal on metal implant was thought to decrease wear rates increasing the life of the implant before failure. The drawback was that there was a buildup of chromium and cobalt ions in the patient’s blood (Dunstan, 2005). These ions come from use of the implant. The metal cup and metal head generate friction and release tiny metallic debris. These can be small enough to be spread throughout the tissue and enter the bloodstream causing damage. This wear is worse when the implant is used in an edge-loading (the ball rubs against the edge of the cup) movement, like getting up from a seat or climbing stairs. With the exception of the ARS recall, which will be discussed next, Kendal et al. found that mortality rates at 10 years after the placement of a metal on metal implant were lower when compared to implants with or without cementing. The mortality rate for metal on metal was 3.6% compared to 6.1% and 4.1% for the cemented and uncemented total hip replacement, respectively. This was irrespective of age or …show more content…
The main benefit of this is during the postoperative period to hasten rehabilitation and have a faster recovery. This procedure also allows for a shorter hospital stay. However, there is no healing advantage of the skin itself, as wounds heal across the wound and don’t zipper up. In Jerosch’s review, many of the surgeons saw other improvements: lower prevalence of limp, 97% of patients discharged the same day of the surgery, reduced blood loss and shorter operating times. The drawbacks to smaller incisions are a smaller area for the surgeon to work with and a smaller visual range. In order to compensate for this, some type of visualizing technique must be used, whether radiological imaging or with a computer assisted surgical device, increasing equipment cost. Some of the complications from this technique are as a result of the limited access to the hip joint. This causes a misplacement of the implant resulting in fractures or pain in the patient. With an experienced team, this risk decreases