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