Robin Pourzal, PhD, a researcher scientist in the department of orthopedic surgery at Rush University Medical Center, is one the study’s researchers. Dr. Pourzal and his team are examining approximately 400 implants that have been retrieved from patients since 2000 that qualify for the study. Another 1,100 patients will participate in postmortem retrieval.
The researchers are using advanced profiling technology to measure the implant surfaces and identify wear scars. The researchers hope to advise implant companies on better implant designs and materials to avoid failures in the future.
Failed implants are collected and catalogued in Rush’s Implant Pathology Laboratory. Total hip replacements now last between 15 and 25 years in most cases, but if a reaction occurs, the implant life time can be less than five years.
In 2011, orthopedic surgeons implanted 306,000 total hip replacements in the United States, and surgeons performed an additional 50,600 revision procedures to replace previously implanted artificial hips that same year. Both numbers increase every year.
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