VERILAST◊ strength

What is the risk of hip implant fracture, chipping or squeaking?

Hip fracture

As one of the largest joints in the body, the hip is subjected to tremendous pressures even during simple, everyday activities. For example, the weight pressing against these joints during a simple walk can be 5 to 6 times your natural body weight.

Because the hip ball component of a VERILAST◊ Hip implant uses a metal as its base, it can withstand forces far greater than those of a ceramic hip - another material often used in in hip implants.1

Unfortunately, while ceramic heads are biocompatible and may provide good resistance to implant wear, they can fracture under impact.2

As you will learn on the OXINIUM◊ Oxidized Zirconium page of this site, the surface of the VERILAST Hip implant is transformed into a ceramicised metal, retaining all of the durability of the underlying metal and offering the smooth, wear-reducing surface of a ceramic.3

And because this ceramicised surface is not a coating, it cannot chip off or flake away. Finally, because the VERILAST Hip ball rotates against a highly cross-linked plastic liner, there is less concern of squeaking than there is in "hard-on-hard" implant couples like ceramic-on-ceramic or metal-on-metal implants.4

So whether it is fracture, chipping or squeaking that concerns you, VERILAST Hip technology addresses each of these concerns.

Important safety notes

Hip replacement surgery is intended to relieve hip pain and improve hip function. However, implants may not produce the same feel or function as your original hip. There are potential risks with hip replacement surgery such as loosening, fracture, dislocation, wear and infection that may result in the need for additional surgery. Longevity of implants depends on many factors, such as types of activities and weight. Do not perform high impact activities such as running and jumping unless your surgeon tells you the bone has healed and these activities are acceptable. Early device failure, breakage or loosening may occur if you do not follow your surgeon's limitations on activity level. Early failure can happen if you do not guard your hip joint from overloading due to activity level, failure to control body weight, or accidents such as falls. Talk to your doctor to determine what treatment may be best for you.

References

  1. Data on file.
  2. G. Hadley Callaway, MD, William Flynn, MD, Chitranjan S. Ranawat, MD,and Thomas R Sculco, MD. Fracture of the Femoral Head After Ceramic-on-polyethylene Total Hip Arthroplasty. Journal of Arthroplasty; Vol. 10 No. 6: 1995.
  3. Zardiackas, Lyle D., Kraay, Matthew J., Freese, Howard L, editors. Titanium, Niobium, Zirconium, and Tantalum for Medical and Surgical Applications ASTM special technical publication; 1471. Ann Arbor, MI: ASTM, Dec. 2005.
  4. Claire L. Brockett, PhD, Sophie Williams, PhD, Zhongmin Jin, PhD, Graham H. Isaac, PhD, and John Fisher, D.Eng. Squeaking Hip Arthroplasties: A Tribological Phenomenon. Journal of Arthroplasty; Volume 28, Issue 1 , Pages 90-97, January 2013.

All information provided on this website is for information purposes only. Every patient's case is unique and each patient should follow his or her doctor's specific instructions. Please discuss nutrition, medication and treatment options with your doctor to make sure you are getting the proper care for your particular situation. If you are seeking this information in an emergency situation, please call 911 and seek emergency help.

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