Glossary – Archives

• Innovative Approach To Hip Replacement Surgery Gets Patient Back On The Hiking Trail Fast
  There are five words that a healthy, active 52-year-old woman doesn't expect to hear: "You need bilateral hip replacements."
  Author: Elizabeth Snead - Date: 30/04/2006



• Hip Replacement Bearings - Surfaces, Keep In Touch!
  The success of total hip replacements depends in part on the materials, design and processing of the materials used in the implant. In spite of careful measures, implants may fail. In due course of time, with daily activity stress, bearing surfaces may wear out and need replacement. Wear is the ongoing shedding of minuscule amounts of material from the implant due to friction or rubbing. Modern hip replacement bearings are highly wear-resistant. These bearing surfaces are the result of intense research to develop materials that resist wear better and allow the hips to last longer. The demand is greater for the young patients who are keen to get back to their life.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 15/01/2006



• Replacement Hip Materials - An Implant Of Substance
  Hip implants replace the natural ball and socket joint of the hip. Although man made hips cannot be compared with the natural ones, the same properties are desirable in artificial replacements. The substance used should be strong, wear resistant and non corrosive. Replacement hip materials should possess endurance, sturdiness and high tensile strength. Most of all, materials should be biocompatible so that it is readily accepted by the body and does not cause immune response towards the replacement implant. There is no ideal implant material developed presently, but research is near to it.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 08/03/2005



• Hip Replacement Manuals - Know The Essentials
  Hip replacement surgery is a big ordeal. The busy schedule of surgeons leaves the patient with many unanswered queries to dwell on. The anxiety generated by this lack of understanding makes them uncooperative and confused. It is a well-acknowledged fact that patient cooperation is the key factor deciding the success of the replacements implant surgery. To overcome this problem, many hospitals and surgeons provide their patients with hip replacement manuals. It is an intelligent move towards patient education and procedure awareness. Written in simple language, manuals facilitate an easy understanding of replacements for hips and better patient compliance.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 08/03/2005



• Hip Replacement Longevity - Secrets Of Long Life Unearthed
  Hip replacement surgeries have revolutionized the field of orthopedics by adding an attractive treatment option for people with painful hips and difficult movements at the hip. But ever since the treatment has come into practice, the question of hip replacement longevity has raised waves. Most show an average life span of ten to fifteen years, though it may vary from person to person. Half of the people requiring a correction surgery have a worn out acetabulum. The acetabulum is made of a polyethylene compound which, on wear with the metallic femoral head, produces wear debris and resorption of bones. This process loosens the replacement implants and calls for revision surgery. The acetabulum of the replacements may become oxidized and fragile, compromising the lifespan of the implant.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 08/03/2005



• Improved Hip Replacements - Improved Implant, Improved Life!
  Hip replacement surgeries have become quite common. Because of the ever increasing burden of bone-related disorders, hip replacements are frequently performed for osteoarthritis, bone tumors and certain hip injuries. The diseases of hips, which once used to be limited to geriatric populations, has started manifesting in young patients also. The difficult joint movements impair the quality of life significantly. The high number of young people affected makes it necessary to devise a better replacement implant that has a prolonged life span and can bear activity-related stresses on the hips. The new improved hip replacements are aimed at achieving a high activity level and an appreciable life span.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 08/03/2005



• Innovative Hip Implants - Progression Towards The Perfect Implant
  Gone are the days when patients, irrespective of the type of hip disorder or age, had to bear with the same kind of traditional metal-on-plastic implants for hips. There was no consideration of the individual patient's need for implants based on unique disease condition. The result was an increased incidence of implant loosening, soaring numbers of revision surgeries, and decreasing patient satisfaction with the replacements. This situation called for innovative hip implants to overcome all earlier drawbacks. New ceramic implants are a promising deal in hip replacements.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 07/08/2005



• Metallic Hip Replacements - The Pros And Cons
  Hip replacement implants have basically two parts; the femoral head and the acetabular cup. The metallic femoral head is accommodated in the polyethylene lined acetabulum. This traditional design has been acclaimed worldwide as the most successful hip implant. However, these implants are associated with a high degree of wear and tear that consequently loosens the implant, calling for a revision surgery. It was found that the polyethylene-metal combination had the disadvantage of high wear rates. In order to overcome this problem, metallic hip replacements were used. The implant has a combination of metal-on-metal which can be an alloy of cobalt, chromium and other biologically acceptable metals.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 14/08/2005