Squeaky Hip?

[Neil O]

More news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch...

http://www.aaos.org/news/bulletin/janfeb07/cl...

http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release...

[Joe Brownlee Auckland]

I would like to offer my orthopaedic surgical practice website post on squeaking hip replacements to the forum. Please visit http://www.osco.co . nz/2008/06/squeaking-ceramic-h ip-joint-replacements/

[Hippies list grows longer]

Left THR in 2003, ceramic on ceramic, began the progression of sqeek to grind from 2005, told today the parts are faulty and a revision will take place in September. Asked about the history and alike and the Dr said "i know, this is all pretty new and you are only my second case, think it happens only in 1-1000 replacements'. Asked if this could have been attributed to my profession but he definately said it was the faulty parts.
I dont blame the doctor at all, did the best with the technology and information at hand but I thought as a human I had more rights, car part recalls get treated more seriously.

[Jim M]

This is getting to be old story. First total hip re was about 3 yrs ago. Now squeaking intermittently Will need other done in year or two. What to do. seems like more than the "few" reported by Stryker. Some very minor discomfort in hip, no real pain. If squeak gets louder or more consistent could be very awkward.

[Jo-Anne canada]

just recently foundout that i have received a faulty screw through stryker ortho and howmedica. Am very upset and angry that there is so much disregard for human life. There is a voluntary recall like we are a car or something. We're human not something with four tires. how do you proceed and what to do.

[Annie -Spain]

Hola
I had THR April 2007. All was fine until January 2009 when very suddenly,after leaning over to pick something up, my hip started clunking with every step I take. Within a few months the grinding, squeaking, popping and clunking noises had got so bad that I made an appointment to see a specialist. His comment was "it is impossible for the hip to make these noises" I was told "it was all in my head" I am quite distraught as the noises are so loud (it often sounds like I am passing very loud wind) I have some soreness over the sight of the noises but no real pain. My leg is getting very weak as my ability to walk very far worsens daily. I just cannot physically walk at a normal speed and end up walking like a cripple.I am really upset as I used to be so active. We ran a small fruit and vergetable farm in Spain but now we are going to have to sell up. Would love to know if anybody out there can help me.

[Jo-Anne]

This is year 2009 and I just received a recall notice for a defective titanium hip screw has anyone else received a letter. It was fromt the same company that has been warned about their faulty [squeaky joints] please let me know if anyone has received such a recall and what is being done.

[Linda]

My hip squeaks but what is all the fuss about. I was in agony before my hip, now I have returned to all my sporting activities. A squeaking hip is a small price to pay for an prosthesis which allows the younger age group patients (I'm 46) to have an active life style.

[Hippies list grows longer]

I guess the use of the term "squeak" does not clearly articulate perhaps what I and others may have endured. Speaking for myself, a grind was generated with each step taken which incurred psychological and third party ridicule, humility and social impairment. I was extremely happy post first op with the removal of daily pain but unfortunately a ripple effect from faulty parts made from a specific company brought upon conditions that should have been advised pre-op. I undertook the revision op last week and hope with the change of parts I can enjoy a normal life, I am 38.

[Natalie Tapley]

Neil O wrote:

I had a total hip replacement (ceramic) 2.5 years ago and for the last 6 months it has developed a worsening squeak when I walk, sometimes a grinding sound when I turn and bend. My Dr. says it has been reported only about 60 times and it usually goes away in a few months. Mine is getting worse. Anyone ever heard of this?

Hi Neal. Atlantic Canada here. In response to your question "Anyone ever heard of this?" Yes, I have. My THR was done july 2004, 3 months after surgery the squeaking started.In the last two months or so I can feel the hip wanting to dislocate. So yesterday I was back to the hip surgeon. It didn't go well. He was angry and defensive. He kept saying about 2% of the ceramic on ceramic with titainium squeak "What's the big deal he said." I said so by what you are saying to me then the next time I see you Dr. I guess it will be the E.R. He told me my hip was not trying to dislocate because with the ceramic on ceramic that they are impossible to dislocate. I came home and found a small study of 27 THR patients. ALL had the ceramic on ceramic and ALL had squeaking. Three of them their hips dislocated and they needed more surgery. My turn is coming it is just a matter of time. I just hope I don't die before they get to me.

[Chuck]

I had metal-on-metal total hip replacement in June 2006, at the age of 46. I was very active (competitive tennis, biking, running) and my orthopod told me a metal on metal with an over-sized femoral head was best if I intended to return to that level of activity. I was ecstatic with the results for probably the first 1-1 1/2 years. Then I started to develop a clicking/clunking when I twisted or moved my hip in a certain way. My orthopod told me it sounded like the joint had loosened and suggested he might need to replace the cup with a larger one (he apparently used a smaller one, i.e., less than a full half dome, in order to give me more joint mobility). I begged off the surgery and just tolerated it. But in the last year, the joint has started squeaking to where it now squeaks pretty much whenever I walk. It also hurts when I walk and running is out of the question. It tolerates bike riding pretty well so that's become my primary exercise. I'm going to my orthopod next week and expect to go ahead with the second surgery in the next month or so. Just can't accept inability to walk without pain for the rest of my life (I'm now 50).

[Neil O]

Linda wrote:

My hip squeaks but what is all the fuss about. I was in agony before my hip, now I have returned to all my sporting activities. A squeaking hip is a small price to pay for an prosthesis which allows the younger age group patients (I'm 46) to have an active life style.

I think you will find out what all the fuss is about if you read some of these posts. I was not so concerned either when I first started this topic years ago, but you will see that the condition deteriorates causing more discomfort and limitations in your activities. Then the part will wear out and eventually need to be replaced, hopefully before it breaks and causes serious problems. The squeak is not just a benign sound effect, it represents wear that gets worse as it becomes less smooth.

[Annie -Spain]

Hola
Have finally been able to get an appointment with the surgeon (3rd time) I see him in November, will let you know how it goes. I am apprehensive about it as the previous 2 occasions that I saw him he was not interested in listening to me and said that as I was not in any serious pain then what am I worrying about. As mentioned before, he dismissed the noises as "all in my head". I had a Spanish friend check on the internet in Spain to see if he could find any sights that mentioned these problems. He found nothing!! Cannot believe that I am the only one in Spain!

[Kathy]

I am another one with a squeaky hip replacement. I had my hip replaced May 08. Contracted MRSA infection in the hip and had to have another operation June 08 and have the hip done again. In September 09 my hip started squeaking and now it is louder and more frequent. I too, have ceramic on ceramic. Let me know if there is a action against the manufacturer. I just began walking normal enough to start applying for jobs and as scarce as they are, my interviews are being jeapordized by the squeaking when I get up to leave. Who wants to hire a squeaking employee?

[bkt]

Neil O wrote:

<quoted text>
My squeak started about the same time and has gradually and steadily worsened.

I had my hip replacement in 04 and this past april I developed a squeak and I also have the grinding. Other people can hear it. I went to my Dr. today and xrays were fine. He indicated that he there was reports of this but that it did not mean I would have any more problem. I do not have pain.

[Joe Brownlee New Zealand]

bkt wrote:

<quoted text>
I had my hip replacement in 04 and this past april I developed a squeak and I also have the grinding. Other people can hear it. I went to my Dr. today and xrays were fine. He indicated that he there was reports of this but that it did not mean I would have any more problem. I do not have pain.

Neil. You have a 6 year old ceramic/ceramic mechanical bearing system in your hip. The reason that is is making noise is that there is something wrong with the surfaces in the bearing couple. Any auto mechanic will tell you the same. Talk to your surgeon about an exchange bearing procedure and if he/she is unwilling to talk about it, ask for a referral on to a surgeon that will. Remember, these are man-made devices. They may fail. Deal with the problem promptly and all will be well.Ceramics are the best answer we have yet.

[Alan G]

I had my right hip replaced 3/21/08. Everything was going well with the right hip so 11/21/08 I had my left hip replaced. Then 6/09 my right hip developed a popping sound. Then I started squeaking more and more. Fearing this was a sign that something was going wrong I of course had gone back to the surgeon who gave me Oh that is normal nothing to worry about. Will then it started hurting. So bad that I left work and went back to the surgeon who took and xray. Gave me a perscription for pain and inflamatory medication. Said that the xray look fine. Yeah the pain meds are great but you can function at work on pain meds if you are a welder fabricator crane operator. So I went to a different surgeon and finally got some answers. The socket had moved and I needed another surgery to correct this. And was sent to a specialist for this last surgery. Anyone who has developed squeaking and popping hips replacement I am sure is aware that Stryker has several issues with defective parts and currently has several class action lawsuits filed against them. I believe my orignal surgeon was aware of this problem with the Stryker parts. And put me at risks because he did not want to say anything against Stryker. Oh and by the way there was mention of Stryker paying surgeons to use Stryker. I could go on and on. As I am sure everyone that has posted commments could do the same. I have not been given a defentative answer to why I had problems but my feeling is defective parts.

[Annie Spain]

Saw the surgeon at long last and surprise surprise he had not been informed by Stryker regarding the recall. He said he is not prepared to do anything and as it was just a noise then I have to live with it. After a very heated arguement I demanded a second opinion which was refused. At this stage he could see that I was not going to leave it so he has agreed to send me for a scan, which was done in early December. I am waiting for the results. Like Alan G. I have also been told that Stryker offer massive incentives to surgeons to use Stryker products. I know by reading the comments that x-rays do not show up the faults but I did read that scanning will. Does anybody know what type of scan was used. MRI, POP and CAT are the only ones I know.

[Annie Spain]

Forgot to mention that I wrote to Steven MacMillan President, & William J Cymbaluk Vice President of Styker, asking them to notify the health authorities in Spain that a recall on Stryker Trident products have been recalled. I also asked them to correspond with my surgeon as I would like him to know that "it is not all in my head" So far no response. If Styker had not responded to the 3 letters sent to them by the FDA then what are my chances?? Do you think one of the American Lawyer's will take up my case (in Spain)

[Natalie Tapley]

Annie. I don't know what a POP is but I do know that x-rays rarely show anything if anything is amiss. They usually show a negative result. The MRI wouldn't be used due to any metal components in the artificial hip. The scan you speak of I'd assume would be the cat scan. I had a cat scan just done myself in November and I'm still waiting for results.The surgeon told me before hand not to expect anything on them that they usually don't show anything either. Personally I think he was trying to discourage me because he became 'personally defensive' when we had our appointment on the problems with my hip. Time will tell.