Hip Joint Replacement: the Best Way to Solve Arthritic Hip Bones?

In the US alone, relevant statistics show that theretissues and may lead to infection. Nevertheless, new
are around 150,000 patients who have had hip jointtechnologies applied in the manufacture of plastic
replacements. And a big chunk of this number areparts have made them more durable enough to
aged sixty and above. But hip joint problems areperform their functions for years.
hardly restricted to older people. Regardless of yourCeramic Replacement Parts
age or race, you can have problems with your hipAnother material used for articulating surfaces in hip
bones which may require you to undergo a hip jointjoint replacement is ceramics. Ceramic replacement
replacement.parts are hard and very durable unlike plastic implants.
In a typical hip joint replacement procedure, the ballActually made from aluminum oxide, which is among
of the upper thigh and the injured cartilage of thethe hardest materials known to man, ceramic parts
corresponding hipbone socket are taken away to becan provide the patient with a much longer time of
replaced with artificial implants. These replacementsservice due to their ability to withstand wear and
or implants are intended to provide the patient with atear.
new set of fully-functioning hip joint, which will giveHowever, ceramic parts cannot be made into large
the patient more freedom in movement.thighbone balls; which means, a patient implanted with
The most important part of the hip joint replacementceramic parts may have to be careful about extreme
components are the articulating surfaces. These aremovements because the thighbone head may snap
the areas where movements of the joints areand be dislocated from the hip sockets.
actually done; basically these surfaces involve theMetallic Replacement Parts
thighbone ball and the hipbone socket of theAll types of articulating surfaces for your hip joint
replacement parts.replacement are meant to become depreciated
A good hip joint replacement surgery should allow thethrough constant use and the passage of time, just
patient to move smoothly and gracefully. And this islike your real bones. However, when you talk about
determined, to a large extent, by the material that isdurability and flexibility, especially if you have a very
chosen to replace the articulating surfaces of thedemanding lifestyle, metallic replacement parts are
hipbone and thighbone. Today, there are three basicyour lucky break!
compositions or materials that are used as articulatingIf you have broken your hip joints, and these are
surfaces to any hip joint replacement.replaced with metallic balls and sockets, then you
Plastic Replacement Partsmay have something more durable than your original
Plastic or polyethylene has been a favorite implantbones. Studies have shown that metallic parts have
material for years. If used for the articulatinglower rate of wearing and tearing.
surfaces of the hipbone and thighbone, plasticIndeed today, the materials that are used as
replacement parts weigh less and can be morearticulating surfaces for hip joint replacements have
flexible. Plastic parts can also cost less than othercome a long way from elephant ivories. But come to
materials.think of it, durability is not always the best policy. In
However, plastic hip joint replacement parts tend tofact, having your original bones is still better than
wear easily and may result to a loosening of the ballhaving artificial implants. So, take care of your hip
from the socket. To make things more complicated,bones and all the other bone structures in your body
as plastic ball and socket rub against each other,so that you will not need any hip joint replacement.
plastic particles may become lodged on other bone