Metal on Metal Hips Fail More Often

British researchers writing in the journal The Lancet report that metal on metal hip replacement devices fail more frequently than older implants made with a plastic socket and a plastic or metal ball. They analyzed data on more than 400,000 hip replacements between 2003 and 2011. Approximately 30,000 of these involved all-metal artificial hips. Those receiving such implants had a 6 percent chance of needing a replacement within five years. This rate is three times higher than those for people getting more conventional devices. British patients with all-metal hips are advised to get annual checkups to detect problems including toxic metal exposure. The British scientists concluded that tighter regulation might have prevented this type of problem. (Image from Adam)

[The Lancet, March 13, 2012]