Some metallic hip prostheses could be dangerous for your health

Cobalt levels 4 times higher than the accepted dose

Mid-December 2014, theMedicines Safety Agency (ANSM) published official recommendations advising against the implementation of hip prostheses with metal jointsbecause of a potential risk of poisoning.

However, some metal prostheses are still used and a complaint has just been filed against the company Smith and Nephew, the ANSM and the Primary Health Insurance Fund of Toulon by Frédéric Simon, a patient in whom had been implanted a metal prosthesis in the right hip in February 2010.

Indeed, after the installation of his prosthesis, this patient had suffered for almost three years from pain, nausea, loss of weight and sleep, not to mention the “funny creaking noises” he heard at the level of his hip. .

After a blood test, it was discovered in his body cobalt levels (metal of the prosthesis) 4 times higher than the maximum tolerated dose.

Mr Simon had another operation in August 2014 to change his prosthesis, and the specialists did indeed observe abnormal wear and tear on the defective prosthesis, implicating the manufacturer and the health authorities.

ANSM recommendations

According to a device expert at the ANSM, studies on this type of prosthesis have shown very different results depending on the brands and models.

And even if the European scientific committee has not found any general risk for this product, the Medicines Safety Agency nevertheless advises orthopedic practitioners “to avoid all hip prostheses with a metal-metal friction couple in women of childbearing age [et] patients allergic to metals”.

There are also other types of hip prostheses using, for example, stainless steel-polyethylene or ceramic-ceramic pairs (I. Ceram).