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home > healthworks
 Here's something
you don't hear about everyday-a recall of an artificial joint surgically
put into a person. But that's the case with a hip-replacement part voluntarily
recalled by Sulzer Orthopedics.
HealthWorks recently told you about the new metal-on-metal
hip implant. The patient we talked with, Bob Thorpe, is one of the patients
being affected by this recall.
Thorpe received a call from Dan Downs, MD, the orthopedic
surgeon who did the implant, that his was one being recalled. The recall
included some of the metal-on-metal implants and other implants using
a plastic cup. The company says a production error had left traces of
a mineral oil on the back of the joint, and in Thorpe's case, that meant
the bone was not attaching to the new joint.
Thorpe says he was not healing as well as he thought he
should. In fact, he says he was worse off than he was before he had the
surgery. He is the only patient of Dr. Downs having any problems so far.
The company says only a small percentage of patients with
the affected implants will have any problem. They have notified surgeons
about the problem, so patients suspecting a problem should contact their
doctors.
As for Bob Thorpe, he is having his new hip replaced-again
with the metal-on-metal implant. He says the characteristics that made
this a good choice for him a few months ago are still valid and he's looking
forward to getting back to work.
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