AAOS Provides Important Information About Metal on Metal Hip Implants

Hip replacement surgery can relieve your pain, increase motion and most importantly, allow you to get back to enjoying normal, everyday activities. Below is a list of resources to help you before and after your hip replacement surgery.

Questions and Answers about Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants

Knowledge is power – by utilizing the resources available by the AAOS, patients have the ability to make informed decisions and to recognize symptoms at an early stage – should problems arise.

On the AAOC website, you can also read important information such as:

• what you should ask your surgeon during your follow up visit
• what symptoms you can expect to experience following your surgery
• whether you need revision surgery.

Total Hip Replacement Surgery

Whether you have decided to undergo hip replacement surgery or you are just exploring your treatment options, the information provided here, will help you to understand the benefits and limitations of total hip replacement. This AAOS article outlines:

• how the hip works,
• what caused hip pain,
• what to expect from surgery,
• what exercises and activities will help to restore mobility and strength to enable to return to your everyday activities following your surgery.

American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR)

Another useful resource that will assist the public through gathering data on implant issues is the concept of the American Joint Replacement Registry. The AJRR is designed to “foster a national center for data collection and research on total hip and knee replacement with far-reaching benefits to society which include improved patient safety, reduced medical spending and more.”

In the simplest of terms, you can use the Web site to track any problems you may experience with your hip implant. To learn more about AJRR, visit them online at their Web site.

You should talk to your surgeon immediately if you experience pain, or other medical issues, following your joint replacement surgery. As mentioned above, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has detailed information for patients that have metal-on-metal hip implants.

FDA Warning on Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants

Finally, warlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health notice about hip replacement components that have both a metal ball and a metal socket (metal-on-metal hip devices). You can read the FDA warning here.

Also, be sure to read our article, “Dangers of Metal-On-Metal Hip Implants.”