Hip implants "wearing out". What happens!

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I hope to see my hemiarthroplasty surgeon next month for follow up after groin pain problems.  Don't want to sound stupid so thought I'd ask here first.  I've been told my op. will wear out more quickly than THR so I will out live it but doubt I'll get a revision because i have MS.  

What actually happens when it wears out?  What wears out! Think it's different for hemiarthroplasty than THR but have no idea what "wears out" really means and what that entails.  Sorry to be so ignorant but want to be clued up before I see surgeon as I won't get a chance to see him again and this site has been hugely helpful answering all my questions.

2

Dear Carol

I had my original total hip replacement just over twenty years ago and the revision of it several weeks ago.

A couple of years before it wore out I was aware of discomfort in the hip if I walked half a mile and would have to rest it for a few minutes before continuing. Concerned I spoke to Mr doctor who ordered X rays and the report came back as all OK.

Two or so years later I had just finished crouching down to pot out some plants and as I started getting up there was a grinding feeling from my hip and a lot of pain. I got myself into A and E and X rays showed that the plot insert into which the ball of the prosthesis sits held in place by a metal enclosure.

There was moving they could do as they did not know what prosthesis I ha been fitted with and it was the weekend and the hospital where I had the original was in Wales whereas now I am now in England and sharing of hospital notes is not that straightforward I understand.

I should just mention that about five years earlier thinking that I would like to have details of my prosthesis to hand I got in touch with my surgeon's secretary but she was not able to help. The reason only came to light when I got in contact when the hip failed. The reason being that the notes were missing! The surgeon later provided details from memory of the make and approx size of the components.

I urge everyone to get full notes of exactly what they have had installed

Hope all that is of some help.

Cheers Richard

3

hi carol, 

well, right now you have hardware in your body - prothesis replaced your hip joint and steel part of stem is put in your femur -

amazing stuff

like with anything, when using it will wear out ... the ball is moving around in the socket to  keep you moving - 

try Googling hip prothesis and you see what I mean - 

so sorry to hear about your pain in groin ... it has bothered me a lot too and still does at times ...

not sure if this was helpful

let us know how you are getting on, okay

big warm hug

renee

 

4

Sorry about the typo. Not the plot insert. Should have read poly cup of course and should have gone on to say that the plot cup had worn through and that the metal ball was now in context with the metal enclosure. By the time I arrived home in the ambulance some hours later the joint was making a horrible squeaky noise when I walked which continued until I had the revision two months later on.

Cheers Richard

5

Thanks Ken.  Think that's good advice as all I know is I have a unipolar cemented implant.  I've already been told they've lost my records and my surgeon is leaving the NHS this month!  I will ask whether it's cement or titanium. Also make and size.  Anything else I should ask?

6

Dear Carol

I may have missed something but how on earth can they have lost you surgeon's notes after such a short time. In my case there was some excuse as I understand that they were transitioning from written to computer records and it was twenty years ago.

Apart from make and size of stem, ball and cup you need to check the version numbers. In my case there was a change in stem diameter at the time so my revision required a special stem size adapter which resulted in an engineer from the company being there during the surgery.

Cheers Richard

7

I couldn't believe it either!  The hospital I had it done in actually phoned me and asked if I'd had it done privately as they had no record of me. My GP is finally getting details sent to her so I'm assuming they've found them.  I will certainly be confirming that when I see whom ever has taken over from my surgeon.  

I will add version numbers to my list.  Can't believe how complicated it is.  I'd give anything not to have fallen and broken my hip and have so many questions about the hemiarthroplasty.  I'm so grateful to people like yourself on this site for all the advice and information as I haven't had much follow up.  I thought when you broke a bone they just fixed it.  How naive was I.