Hip new world

For younger patients needing hip transplants doctors may advise to put off the surgery for as long as possible. This is because traditionally artificial hips have only lasted for 10 to 15 years. The article describes the history and evolution of the modern artificial hip. Many of the early hips were unstable and unable to adequately withstand the forces of an active patient. They also wore away the natural bone of patients due to a problem called “cement disease”. The erosion of natural bone limited a patient to less than three hip updates before the surrounding bone became too weak. However, now hip implants last longer and more accurately replicate the bones that they replace. A change of materials and surgical procedures also limits the natural bone erosion. This gives younger patients the option to have hip and other implants in order to maintain an active lifestyle without the former risks. While the modern hip implant is not perfect, it is still a fantastic achievement of using mechanical engineering to design medical devices. Future hip implants will be constructed of tough ceramics that will allow good biomechanical properties with minimal material wear.  Read the full article at Mechanical Engineering Magazine. 

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