Dual-mobility hip implant lowers dislocation risk after replacement surgery
· News-MedicalA new type of hip replacement implant reduces the risk of joint dislocation after surgery by 70 per cent. This is the finding of a new study involving 1,600 patients across 44 hospitals in Sweden and the UK, as published in The Lancet. The new implant consists of a small ball encased in a much larger plastic ball, which gives better stability.
New type of cup
Nils Hailer, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Uppsala University Hospital, professor of orthopaedics, and one of the researchers behind the studyIt is extremely painful when a hip replacement dislocates. When it occurs, patients require sedation or further surgery to realign the joint. Once the joint has dislocated, this impairs quality of life, as the patient may feel that they can no longer really trust the implant. There is also a significant strain on healthcare resources."
Patients from Sweden and the United Kingdom
The study included 1,600 people aged 65 or over who had suffered a femoral neck fracture and who were deemed suitable for a THR. Patients treated at 20 hospitals in Sweden and 24 in the UK were randomly assigned to receive either a dual-mobility hip replacement or a standard hip replacement.
Risk reduced by 70 per cent
Included smaller hospitals
No new technology or training required
Although dual mobility implants are currently more expensive than standard implants, researchers believe the reduction in complications could offset the higher upfront cost and are currently undertaking a full health economic analysis.
"Crucially, DM-THR requires no new technology or training. Surgeons are already familiar with both implant types, meaning the change could be implemented immediately within existing practice," says Xavier Griffin.
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