Can Radiation Prevent Hip Replacement Failure?

While many patients implanted with DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement devices are experiencing a high rate of failure, leading some to file Pinnacle lawsuits, there is evidence to suggest that gamma radiation can strengthen plastic hip replacement and knee replacement devices, avoiding the use of the metal components that have proved to be extremely troublesome.

Radiation Can Strengthen Polymers Preventing Failure

A new study conducted in China and published in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology shows that adding ceramic particles and fibers to experimental materials used for prosthetic joints and then applying gamma radiation to the composite materials, restructures the molecular bonds and strengthens them, without compromising their integrity. This process prevents the microscopic fractures in the material that cause it to flake off the device and enter the body’s tissues, causing the pain and inflammation that are indicative of hip replacement failure.

Maoquan Xue of the Changzhou Institute of Light Industry Technology, the researcher who conducted the study, feels that the radiation-treated composite materials, in addition to being stronger than ordinary plastic and ceramic, have a smaller chance of causing infection or another type of rejection in the body. He further suggests that the material could also be receptive to the body’s bone-generating cells, which would allow for a hip replacement component to incorporate itself more naturally into the body.

Alternatives are Needed to Prevent Catastrophic Metal-on-Metal Device Failures

The failure rates of the Pinnacle hip replacement device has shown that metal-on-metal hip implants are far from ideal solutions for replacing arthritic, diseased and damaged joints. The metal alloys used in the components have caused a variety of problems including early failure, pain, swelling and infection, requiring the need for a revision surgery in order to remove the defective implant. Plastic and ceramic hip implants have had their problems as well; working with alternative materials and combining different polymers may prove useful in creating a more reliable hip replacement or knee replacement device that will be less prone to failure and safer for patients who require them. This Chinese study could bode well for the future of hip replacement devices.

Contact Your Doctor Immediately If You Are Experiencing Symptoms Consistent with Failure

If you are experiencing pain, swelling, stiffness or difficulty performing everyday tasks, your hip replacement device may be failing. It is important to contact your physician immediately to assess the situation and to determine the best course of treatment.

Protect Your Rights as a Consumer

The Rottenstein Law Group’s hip replacement lawyers have over 25 years of experience advocating for clients in consumer products injury cases. If you feel you have been injured by a defective DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement, you may have grounds to file a hip replacement lawsuit and receive compensation. Just fill out our convenient contact form, and one of our lawyers will be in touch.