metallosis or something else??

[Guest guest]

Its amazing that the acetabular component was so loose that it didn't show

up on any x-ray or scan.

I just had my shoulder done but have had 12 replacements thus far, and my

CRP levels were high after the last one, but they have come down nicely now.

I hope this all works out well... 6 weeks non weight bearing isn't fun I did

that for the previous 4 hips this one I was on it same day yeah !!!

-- metallosis or something else??

> Dear Friends

>

> I had a THR (Bio Met M2M) 1 1/2 years ago...the surgery was successful and

implant looked

> great on any and all tests. BUT I had pain that increased at 6 months and

wouldn't let up.

> Pain with movement, pain with weight bearing...etc. No other symptoms

except a odd rash

> that came and went for several months. My surgeon was puzzled and tested

for everything he could think of: infection, loosening components, etc. but

no test revealed much at all.

> Only my Sed rate and CRP blood counts were elevated, but not to extreme

levels. SO, he sent me to Dr. s at Rush in Chicago for more

testing. He was able to test my blood levels for both Cobalt and Chromium,

also Titanium. They were all high and so he advised

> revision surgery. My tissues somehow were reacting to the implant and all

was clearly not well. SO my surgeon did a revision surgery 5 weeks ago, and

found the the acetabular component was completely loose. As in so loose he

removed it with a forceps! There was no bone growth into the cup at all..

and the tissue around it was damaged. He had to remove it, clean out the

damaged tissue, including bone. Graft in new bone, and replace it with

another Bio Met device that is part metal/part crossed linked poly. He also

removed the very large ball from the first implant, and replaced it with a

smaller version. He had to use screws to secure the cup to my pelvis. It

wasn't pretty, and I am on no weight bearing protocol for a full six weeks.

NOW, whether we call this metallosis or not, obviously my body had an immune

system reaction to the metal in the implant which caused aseptic loosening.

This has been a troubling and difficult experience. I wonder if any others

with Bio Met hips have had similar troubles? These devices have not been

recalled, but the issues I have had are the same as those with recalled

devices.

>

> I would be very grateful to hear from some of you, as well as glad to

share more details of my experience if that would be helpful.

>

> Celaine

------------------------------------