TO PLUG Channel 4 TVs dispatches last night on hip replacements etc.

[ScousyFogarty]

When I talk to older people about hip joint replacements. They often say it did not work first time; I had to have 2 or 3.

Now Chanel4 went into this in depth (as they do) and said there was a problem on both sides of the Atlantic with the joints they use.

I assume that is true; but fortunes are still being made.

Dammit, I should have watched it. DH has artificial hips; it probably would have made interesting viewing. He had his done about 5 years ago and they've been fine. Can't remember the type of joint they used.

Can you pick it up somewhere?

Good point, I can watch it on 4OD :)

was the ASR hip that was main culprit on program

I found the program last night very interesting. I'm on the waiting list for a hip operation (peri acetabular osteotomy), and have been told that eventually I may end up needing a double hip replacement, and if I was nearer 40 they would just do that rather than the PAO. I've been told by my surgeon that if I get hip replacements, they will need to be redone every fifteen-to-twenty years due to them having problems/wearing out.

As a surgical nurse i've discussed this with orthopaedic surgeons.
The original new joints only last 10-20 years before they need replacing.
Now new technology + methods means that new joints could last for life.
BUT new joints are still likely to fail if: the bone is of poor quality (osteoporosis, metastatic Ca); there is infection present (this could occur due to infection in surgery / hospital, or due to the patient getting an infection even years later which could migrate to the new joint). The main problem is obesity - surgeons cannot now refuse to operate on obese people despite knowing that the new joint may fail under the weight. The wounds of obese patients leak more too. I could write an essay on why obesity is such a problem for joints (i do understand cos i am obese + it is such a complex issue :().
Either we need bariatric artifical joints or GPs need to be firstly honest + then proactive with overweight patients BEFORE their arthritis disables them. Please don't flame me - my sympathy is with the patients.

the joint they were talking about on the program was faulty
nothing to do with pts or procedure
the metal was leaking into the pelvis causing major problems for the pts

Sorry didnt actually watch the prog, but yes have heard about faulty joints.
(Sorry been off sick for weeks now + bored, actually want to talk about work related stuff + go back soon i hope!)

Is Big Business ever really straight? It needs to be driven by health rather than profit in things like this. Often see a salesman waiting when I go to the doctor. The doc does make them wait until the end of the surgery