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With the advancements in technology, more innovations are introduced including metal-on-metal (Metal-on-metal) implants. Hip implants are considered as a pioneer in the medical device field which can greatly benefit those with severely injured hips especially those belonging to the upper age group. The need to find an implant for damaged hip joints which could withstand the wear and tear overtime is on the rise. The goal is to make devices that can be permanent to avoid revision surgery hence saving time, money and effort. However, errors cannot be avoided like the issues the DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement system is facing. The Food and Drug Administration even released a report on the DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement system. What is a Metal-on-metal Hip Device? Metal-on-metal belongs to the 4 devices that the Americans can choose when they need to have a hip replacement surgery. A ball, stem and shell all made out of metal constitutes the device. The metals commonly used are Cobalt-chrome and Titanium. There is no report on which metal is better but cobalt-chrome is known to be used for almost 65 years on orthopaedic devices with less reports of allergies and/or rejections. When it was first introduced in the US in 2002, it was considered as a huge breakthrough. The first Metal-on-metal was manufactured using cobalt-chrome. Some companies such as DePuy purposely designed metal-on-metal device with the younger and more active patients in mind because of its durability. Advantages of a Metal-on-metal Hip Device Metal-on-metal hip device can be considered as the best in terms of durability and can relatively last a long time there is proper care. There are several advantages of having a Metal-on-metal device and they are as follow: - Greater freedom of activity
- Less chances of being dislocated
- Less total material removed (compared to other devices) when there is friction between the ball and socket
- Believed to last a relative longer period of time (at least 15 years) so a revision surgery or another hip replacement won’t be necessary
Concerns on Metal-on-metal Devices With the advantages, concerns were also raised on metal-on-metal devices as they are known to have a variety of side effects. One concern raised is the risk for metal toxicity resulting from the metal particles falling off from the device. After quite some time, metal particles may cause trauma to the bone and/or the surrounding tissues which is called adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR). This phenomenon may be the cause of loosening of the implants which may need revision surgery. Actually, a DePuy Pinnacle lawsuit is already being filed by individuals who reported about experiencing malfunctions on their device. Over a few people have authorized a DePuy Pinnacle Lawsuit up against the manufacturer regarding their particular anguish. When you have been affected regarding this situation, examine below for updates.
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surgery, hip replacement, hip, arthritis, osteoarthritis, hip surgery, arthroscopy, prothesis, depuy pinnacle lawsuit, pinnacle lawsuit, depuy pinnacl,
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