THURSDAY, May 31 (HealthDay) -- Sometimes, even the substitutes need a substitute.
So, in the event that your artificial hip is giving you major trouble and you have to replace it, DePuy Orthopaedics of Warsaw, Ind. has come up with a temporary artificial hip that's relatively easy to install until the next major surgery. The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the device March 23.
Artificial hips have to be replaced for a number of reasons, the most common being infection. The DePuy device is good for about three months until a new artificial hip is surgically installed. At the same time antibiotics will help heal the infection, which must occur before a new artificial hip can be implanted.
The artificial hip substitute is implanted only a person has what's known as two-stage surgery.
According to FDA, two stage surgery is: "When your doctor takes out your infected artificial hip, treats you with antibiotics until your infection is healed, and then puts in a new artificial hip."
The device may allow for mobility, help keep scars from forming in hip joint between surgeries and help treat infection.
There are some warnings from the FDA:
Don't use the artificial hip substitute if you have kidney problems, plan on placing a lot of weight on your hip, or
are allergic to its antibiotics.
If you want to see what the device looks like, this graphic presents a decent likeness.
And this FDA paper gives all the details.
