All-metal hip implants can damage soft tissue: FDA (Reuters) -
Metal-on-metal hip implants can cause soft-tissue damage and
pain, which could lead to further surgery to replace the
implant, the U.S. health regulator said, following several
recalls of the artificial hip parts. All-metal hip implants were
developed to be more durable than traditional implants but have
become a major cause of concern following several safety issues
and user discomforts. The traditional implants combine a ceramic
or metal ball with a plastic socket. The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration said all-metal implants can shed metal where two
components connect, such as the ball and the cup that slide
against each other during walking or running. Such release of
metal will cause wear and tear of the implant and can damage
bone and soft tissue surrounding the implant. The agency said
surgeons should select a metal-on-metal hip implant for their
patient only after determining that its benefits outweigh that
of an alternative hip system. Jo