A hip replacement implant typically has three parts:
- A cup, made of metal, polyethylene or a combination of polyethylene backed by metal which replaces the hip socket.
- A ball, which replaces the head of the thigh bone, made of cobalt/chromium alloys, stainless steal or ceramic materials.
- A stem, made of titanium which fits into the thigh bone.
Wear debris can be generated from articulating surfaces, metal-on-metal (MoM), couples or from any modular or fixation interface as a result of corrosion, abrasion or deferential micro movement.
There has been growing concern about the biological effects of metal wear debris generated from hip replacement implants. New evidence was published recently that metal wear debris is also associated with genotoxicity.
Despite the large number of hip replacement performed in the last 30 years, no clinical evidence has emerged that these effects occur after implantation of metal hips and there was no evidence to suggest that this poses a significant health risk. However, this possibility has not been excluded.
If any of these issues effect you or if you have received a metal-on-metal hip implant, please contact Liam Moloney, Solicitor at 045 898000 or simply log on to www.moloneysolicitors.ie
