Having your hip replaced is a huge deal that requires a lot of thought and planning. One thing that you don’t want to happen is that you end up having a problem with the hip after the surgery.
Your surgeon has to determine what type of replacement product is going to be used. This decision has to be made with your lifestyle and other points related to your life in mind.
Risks versus benefits
Once your surgeon makes a recommendation about the type of hip implant you will have, you will need to look at the risks and benefits of the procedure and the implant being used to determine if you agree to the entire process.
One of the possible types of implants is the metal-on-metal implant. While this used to be a fairly common choice, guidance from the Food and Drug Administration has shed light on issues that stem from this type of implant.
Problems with metal-on-metal hip implants
The primary issue that can come from metal-on-metal hip implants is that the friction of the ball in the socket can lead to metal shavings coming off the implant. These can move around the body with detrimental effects. It is possible that some patients will experience a reaction from the metal shavings.
Some of the more common reactions have to do with the metal shavings damaging the soft tissues and other structures around the hip. This can lead to pain, decreased mobility and a host of other problems, including troubles with the implant itself.
People who have a hip implant should be vigilant about watching their health so they can react to the first sign that something is amiss. Some signs that you might need medical care include heart changes, a skin rash, visual changes, auditory changes, issues with renal function and problems with your thyroid.
It is also possible that you will experience mental health changes. These include altered cognitive abilities and depression. These should be addressed quickly so that the problems don’t escalate too much.
Treatments for problems
The way that the issues are corrected depend on the problem and the severity. The worst case scenario for some patients is that the hip replacement will have to be redone. This means more time to heal and another invasive procedure. It can also mean more expenses than you originally planned for.
If you have been harmed by a metal-on-metal hip implant, you might have options for addressing the damages. Learning about these can benefit you greatly.