Medical Treatment – Archives

• Orthopaedic Hospital Research Team Wins Another Coveted Charnley Award
  A team of researchers and physicians at Orthopaedic Hospital’s Joint Replacement Institute (JRI) and J. Vernon Luck, Sr., M.D. Orthopaedic Research Center (JVL) in Los Angeles has again won the John Charnley Award for 2006 in recognition of excellence in hip resurfacing research. This is the third Charnley award to be presented to researchers at Orthopaedic Hospital for their groundbreaking research on all aspects of hip joint replacement by the Hip Society.
  Author: Ágnes Huff - Date: 28/05/2006



• Providence Gets Bonus In Quality Program
  Providence Medical Center has been recognized for quality as part of a national pay-for-performance project, the hospital said Thursday.
  Author: Jim Paquette - Date: 02/07/2006



• Zimmer Launches New Minimally Invasive Hip Procedure
  Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE and SWX: ZMH), a worldwide leader in the orthopaedics industry, announced today that it will launch a new procedure for minimally invasive joint replacement that was developed to expand patient benefits and geographic reach beyond currently available techniques. The procedure is being demonstrated to orthopaedic surgeons attending the AmericanAcademy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting, which began on February 23, 2005, in Washington, D.C.
  Author: Ray Elliott - Date: 26/02/2006



• Computer-Assisted Knee & Hip Replacement Surgery
  Orthopaedic surgeon Vance Askins, MD of Gulfcoast Orthopaedic Center is performing at Sarasota Memorial Hospital what only a small percentage of surgeons across the country have been able to offer: Computer-assisted total knee and hip replacement surgery with an Oxinium component. This new procedure is possible via funding by Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation in combination with support from Sarasota Memorial Hospital. “Sarasota Memorial Hospital is ranked number 36th in the country for Orthopaedics and this was the next step to keep us on the cutting edge of technology,” states Dr. Askins.
  Author: Susan Nichols - Date: 09/04/2006



• Pinnacle Hip Replacements - Strong Cup, Strong Joint!
  The hip is a ball and socket type of joint. The two parts of the joint, the acetabular cup and the femoral head, coordinate with each other to make a range of motion possible at the hip joint. The acetabular cup accommodates the femoral head, allowing for smooth movement and rotation that aids in mobility of the joint. Any irregularities on acetabular surfaces increase the wear and tear, making movements difficult. In conventional hip replacements and implants, the polyethylene cups have high degree of friction. In due course it wears out, causing loosening and painful hip implants. The very purpose of the surgery is then defeated. Pinnacle hip replacements aim to supersede this drawback of implant surgeries.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 24/06/2005



• Anterior Hip Replacement - A Favorable Approach
  Conventional hip replacement surgery entails a lateral or posterior approach to the hip joint for replacing it. In this process, many muscle layers are severed and damaged. The detached muscle takes a very long time to heal itself imposing the countless restriction of activity in post operative period. The anterior hip replacement on the other hand, offers an anterior approach to the hips for replacement surgery. The surgeon can work on the implant between the muscle fibres eliminating the need for cutting it. The muscle of the hip or the femur is also spared from being detached. As a result the muscle recovers faster with few complications. The post operative complications are few and the outcome is usually uneventful.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 25/06/2005



• Wear Resistant Implants - Durable And Strong
  Hip replacement surgery is intended to provide a better activity level, as well as freedom from pain and inconvenience. As soon as activities are resumed, the process of wear and tear begins causing progressive damage and corrosion to the implant. The byproducts of this process are wearing debris particles. Owing to its biological activity, an immune response is stirred up against the hip implant. The body considers the implant as foreign material and rejects it. This causes bone resorption, loss of interface and finally loosening of the implant. This calls for the need of wear resistant implants and replacements that could defy the corrosive forces of the body activity. The ideal hip replacement implant should be able to resist corrosion and withstand against friction. In addition, the hip replacement implant should also be biocompatible.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 26/06/2005



• Hip Implant Biomaterials - Unlimited Options
  Biomaterials are biological molecules, such as proteins and complex sugars, used to make medical devices, including structural elements. In surgery, a biomaterial is a synthetic material used to replace part of a living system or to function in intimate contact with living tissue. Hip implant biomaterials are man-made substances used to substitute the hip joint, in whole or a part of it, in order to provide better joint stability and mobility at hips. With more younger people opting for the hip replacement surgery, the need for a strong, durable hip implant and replacement has intensified studies in the field of biomaterials. The aim is to increase the life span of the hip replacements with a strong hip implant biomaterial.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 27/06/2005



• Ceramic Hip Implants - Less Wear, More Life!
  Over the years, hip replacements have become much more common. Even the target population has changed. Where once the hip replacement surgery was indicated for old age people with less physical activity, now more and more young people are opting for the implants and replacements. The conventional implant has a tendency to wear out due to the daily activities of younger, more active patients. Ceramic hip implants are aimed to cut short this drawback of hip replacements.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 28/06/2005



• Child Hip Implants - A No Kidding Approach!
  Bones in children have the distinctive property of expansion in terms of length. The long bones in the body have a zone called an epiphyseal plate that does not ossify until the appropriate growth has taken place. This plate is responsible for the height and strength of the bone in children. At times, it is a cause of practical problems. Child hip implants and replacements are advised for the children who have not yet attained their full bone growth.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 03/07/2005



• Hip Implant Performance - Try Till You Succeed….
  A hip replacement operation involves changing the damaged joint with an artificial femur head and acetabulum. The implant is composed of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. This material is very suitable for the replacement implant but it tends to wear out under the extreme pressure exerted by daily activities. The hip joint implant moves approximately one to three million times in a year. It is also calculated that pressure put forth on the hips is about three times the body weight; when climbing stairs, it becomes about six times. These calculations emphasize the amount of activity-related stress hip implants go through. The debris from the replacement which is produced due to activity may generate bone gaps, leading to a loosening of implants. The clientele is also much younger, requiring better hip implant performance in terms of endurance and range of mobility.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 10/07/2005



• Oxinium Hip Replacements - Technology Goes Ultramodern!!!
  Hip replacements have become a very common procedure. Because of a few shortcomings of the conventional ceramic implants, a particular section of age group was preferred for the implants. The younger patients usually had to wait for long painful years to get a hip replacement. The traditional implants that have a low tolerance for wear and tear start loosening after a certain amount of time, creating a need for revision sugery. The average life span of hip replacements is about ten to fifteen years, older people operated on are assuming that the implant will last for their lifetime. Oxinium hip replacements are the result of the need for a strong and durable implant.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 17/07/2005



• Ceramic Hip Replacement Benefits - Enjoy It, Lifelong!
  In the quest for a better material for hip replacement implants, scientists have come up with ceramic implants. They are the result of the latest technological advancements, and initial results indicate that ceramic hip replacement benefits outnumber those of conventional replacements. Ceramic implants are made of a ceramic femoral head or ball moving in the ceramic acetabulum or socket. The surfaces of the implants, being smooth, help in reducing the friction caused by movements in the hips. There is a marked decrease in the rate of wear and tear of the replacements, making them more durable. Usually, the patient is free of pain, but may sometimes experience pain in thighs or stiffness of the legs. The success rate of ceramic hip implants is considerably higher as compared to traditional replacements.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 31/07/2005



• Metal Hip Implants - A Boon Of Longer Life
  Hip implants and replacements are aimed at providing a good quality of life, with almost all the normal movements to enjoy an active life. Metal hip implants have a metallic femoral head accommodated in a metal acetabulum. The wear rate of metal implants are a hundred times lesser than conventional hip replacement implants, where the polyethylene-on-metal design wears out, leading to bone loss and implant failure. Metallic implants with less bone loss and osteolytic activity ensures a longer life. The procedure of metal hip replacements is mostly resurfacing, meaning most of the bone is left untouched. This is beneficial in providing a base to the implant and also helps if revision surgery is required. The range of activities possible is better than with the conventional implants. The added advantage of metallic implants is that the joint fluid of the hips forms an interface, providing a smooth gliding to the joint.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 28/08/2005



• Restore Hip Implants – Strengthen Your Support System!
  The Restore Orthobiologic Soft Tissue Implant is a result of intense research work. The implant was devised with an objective to restore the strength of weakened soft tissue from the replacements of hips. After a few years of experiments, the implant was utilized in rotator cuff injuries to repair and bring back the normal function of the shoulders. The functions can be further extended to hip replacement implants. Restore hip implants are used to reinforce the hip supports weakened due to surgery.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 04/09/2005



• Replacement Hip Joints - Renew Joint, Rejuvenate Life!
  Many disease conditions of the bone debilitate the hip joint, making movements difficult at the hip joint. The main culprit is osteoarthritis, followed by rheumatoid condition, any external injury and congenital bone defects. These conditions may cause irreparable damage to the hip joint. The dysfunctional hip joints restrict movements and makes activities of daily life a painful ordeal. For these conditions, replacement hip joints are the only solution. The implants restore your normal activity and let you enjoy the activities you like.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 18/09/2005



• Long Lasting Replacements - Extending The Life Span
  Hip replacements are not a one-time procedure. Implants usually made of metal-on-metal or metal-on-plastic wear out with time. There are many reasons why the implant will not last a long time. The friction between two implant surfaces causes release of wear particles from the implants. The particles can generate an immune response that can increase the rate of bone resorption. When the bones around the implant get decayed, the implant loosens and may dislocate. The replacement then requires a revision surgery. The phenomenon is mostly seen in active patients. The need arises for long lasting replacements that may last for a lifetime.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 08/03/2005



• Low-Wear Hip Implants - Hard Wearing, Durable Hips!
  It is now well known that the major stumbling block to prolonged survival of hip replacements is the wear of the bearing surfaces. In hip implants, the majority of wear happens at the area where the femoral head articulates with the acetabulum. Wear particles are biologically active components and have the potential to cause bone resorption. They may cause pain and, ultimately, loosening of the hip implant. The replacement parts can also wear through, destroying the portion of the prosthesis that supports the bearing surface. Research is still going on to develop low-wear hip implants that may save patients from the trouble of correction surgery.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 18/01/2006



• Ceramic Hip Replacements - Make Life Move Fast!
  For people leading an active life and enjoying daily activities, pain in the hips can become a pain in the neck. Hip problems are debilitating that make even normal activities like walking painful and difficult. Hips affected by arthritis are so painful that even thought of moving is dreadful for the sufferer. Hip replacements can relieve the condition to a great extent. A few years back, implants were considered to be ideal for people over sixty five years of age, but now with the invention of ceramic hip replacements, young patients can enjoy the benefits of a replacement implant as well.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 29/05/2005



• Ceramic Artificial Hips - Strong Material, Sturdy Implant!
  Ceramic is a research-based material developed for making joint implants. This new hip implant material is scientifically developed and tested through hip simulators. Ceramics are considered to be a better material than any other contemporary joint implant material. Implants made of ceramic tend to last longer than other implants. Artificial hips and joints can have ceramic in any component combinations; Ceramic-on-ceramic implants have both the bearing surfaces made of ceramic. Metal implants are thought to be strong, hence ceramic can be incorporated with metals to include the characteristics of both the materials. Ceramic artificial hips, whether with metal or without metal, have shown promising results.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 21/06/2005



• Metal Hip Replacements - Metal Sheen, Metal Strength!
  Hips damaged by arthritis or injury cause excruciating pain, hampering the everyday activities of life. Metals that replace bone are stronger, providing flexible movements at the hips. Metal hip replacements have long been practiced and simultaneous refining is done with each breakthrough in the field. There are many metals tried for the better suitability to the living tissue. The commonly used metals are chromium, nickel, cobalt and titanium. The proportion of metals may differ in various alloys used for designing the replacement.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 21/06/2005



• Artificial Hip Replacements - Venture Into Artificial Hips!
  A modern lifestyle with modern technology has helped people increase their life expectancy. The result is large population of old age people with age related problems. As well, the lifestyle makes the young generation prone to disease conditions. Hip ailments are the most experienced condition in the geriatric age group, which includes conditions such as arthritis, inflammation and injury of any kind to the hips. Disease-related pain gets in the way of performance of daily activities. The condition calls for artificial hip replacements that replace the damaged joint with man-made implants.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 08/03/2005



• Organic Hip Replacements - Get Back To Nature
  Hip implants are required to replace diseased or damaged hips that cause painful movements. The hips are replaced with artificial hips principally made of metal, polyethylene or ceramic. The artificial hip replacements are seldom considered a body part. Even the body does not accept the replacement fully and reveals its dejection through loosening and implant failure. Researchers believe that if somehow a natural implant could be devised, the problems associated with artificial replacements could be overcome. The natural, or organic hip replacements could better tune up with the body tissue.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 22/06/2005



• Long Lasting Implants - To Last Longer Than Life
  Hip replacement implants have three components, namely the acetabular cup, the femoral head and the femoral stem fitting into the femoral shaft. The ideal implants used for hip replacements should be long lasting implants with superior strength and endurance. An ideal implant should be able to provide a smooth functioning joint that will last for a lifetime. The majority of hip implants need a revision surgery, as the implant no longer aids in painless movements. Older patients are preferred for surgery due to the short life span of the available implants. Non-availability of an ideal long lasting implant keeps young patients waiting for hip replacements. These factors necessitate an ideal hip implant that overcomes all these shortcomings.
  Author: Dr. Bharat Sharma - Date: 24/06/2005