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Metal hips and cancer

Some better news for worried patients (and their surgeons) about metal hips and the risk of developing cancer. This artile is very reassuring, but I am sure that there will be more news about this topic in the coming months. I will keep you updated.

 

‘Patients with metal-on-metal implants stand no more chance of developing cancer 7 years after hip replacement than the general population, according to findings of a study commissioned by the National Joint Registry of England and Wales and Hospital Episode Statistics.

For their study, investigators from the Universities of Bristol and Exeter analyzed the cancer rates in patients with metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implants and compared them with the cancer rates of patients with other bearing surfaces and the general population, according to a British Medical Journal press release. Using data from the national joint registry, indentified 40,576 patients with MoM bearing surfaces, 21,264 patients stemmed MoM prostheses and 19,312 patients who underwent resurfacings.

The researchers collected data on patient age and gender, and assessed general health at the time of surgery using diagnostic codes recorded at the time of injury, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade and admissions to the hospital in the previous 5 years. The authors noted in their study that comparison with the general population was not straightforward because hip replacement patients “tend to be healthier than others of the same gender and age group.”

According to the release, the investigators discovered a 60-year-old man in moderate health with a MoM stemmed hip replacement would have a 6.2% chance of being diagnosed with cancer 5 years postoperatively compared to a 6.7% chance if other bearing surfaces were used. Women aged 60 years with MoM stemmed hip replacements showed a 4% chance of developing cancer during the same time period compared to a 4.4% chance if they had other bearing surfaces. The investigators also found that cancer rates were lower than predicted for both hip replacement patients and the general population.

The study authors hope clinicians can use the information to inform patients that cancer risks are low for MoM hips. Further studies are ongoing to acquire long-term data, the release noted, as cancer may develop after years or decades.’

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    Total Hip Replacement or THR is one of the most successful hip operations in orthopaedic surgery. Tens of thousands of hip replacements are performed each year…

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  • Hip Resurfacing

    Hip resurfacing was developed to treat painful arthritis in younger and active patients. It’s now an established technique, and the results are usually excellent in carefully selected patients…

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  • Revision Hip Surgery

    Hip replacement surgery can be life changing for those dealing with pain on a daily basis. Unfortunately, even a replacement hip can wear out…

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  • Hip Replacement

    Total Hip Replacement or THR is one of the most successful hip operations in orthopaedic surgery. Thousands of hip replacements are performed each year…

    Click here to find out more
  • Hip Resurfacing

    Hip resurfacing was developed to treat painful arthritis in younger and active patients. It’s a relatively new technique, but the results are usually excellent…

    Click here to find out more
  • Revision Hip Surgery

    Hip replacement surgery can be life changing for those dealing with pain on a daily basis. Unfortunately, even a replacement hip can wear out…

    Click here to find out more