Cutting Edge Joint Replacement Techniques

Risks associated with hip joint replacement surgery in the past related mainly to blood clots in legs, dislocation and infection after surgery. Early mobilization and blood thinning drugs have dramatically reduced blood clots. Dislocation has been diminished to negligible levels by offering a wider range of implant sizes (diameter) and minimizing muscle damage through minimally invasive hip surgery.

Risks associated with infection is virtually nil in advanced centres like MIOT Hospitals thanks to Laminar air flow operation theatres which bathe the patient in near zero bacteria air which is automatically changed 400 times per minute. Total body exhaust suits worn by operating teams also helps keep infection at bay. Bonding of the implant to the bone and smoothness of the surfaces moving against each other is critical to a successful joint replacement which will last a lifetime. “Debris or dust produced by movement of the artificial ball in the socket which erodes the bone and loosens the implant was the only remaining hurdle”, says Dr Prithvi Mohandas, Director of Hip Arthroplasty at MIOT. “But they have the answer now. Constant research and refinement has proved that Ceramic is the zero risk option for implants as it produces virtually no dust when it moves on another ceramic surface, due to low friction” The immensely strong Delta ceramic variant used in extremely high friction environments like propeller shafts in ocean liners and automobiles has been put to use in the medical arena.

Today cutting edge joint replacement techniques employ Titanium implants with high affinity for bone using immensely strong Delta ceramic heads and moving in delta ceramic liners which together have the capacity to last a lifetime. Infact soon to be published data would suggest zero failure with ceramic total hip replacements and every likelihood of these implants outliving their recipients!