The Future of Total Hip Replacement Baltimore MD

There are currently many orthopedic surgeries available that have the ability to literally replace a damaged or worn-out body part with a synthetic equivalent.   The total hip replacement Baltimore MD was the pioneer of all of these surgeries.  Since it was first described by a German professor of medicine at an international conference in the early 1890's, it has paved the way for knee replacements, shoulder replacements, and even replacements for structures as small and delicate as individual finger joints.  This does not mean that the total hip replacement procedure Baltimore is perfect, though, or that those doctors and scientists who work in that field have stopped trying to make it better.

To Cement or Not Cement in Total Hip Replacement Baltimore

One of the questions that doctors and medical researchers are currently working on is whether or not to cement in the part of the replacement hip joint that stands in for the femoral head.  This ball apparatus has a tapered end that fits down inside of the femur to keep it secure.  Cementing this part in place was first described over a hundred years ago at the medical conference already mentioned.  Cementing techniques were improved in the 1950's when a creative orthopedic surgeon borrowed some cementing compound from the practice of dentistry.  Still, it remains a problem that cementing sometimes fails.

In recent times, cementless prosthetics have been developed.  They are covered in a special substance, hydroxyapatite, that allows bone material to grow into it and subsequently affixes the prosthetic quite securely.  This technique also allows for a greater conservation of biological bone material which can be particularly important in the case of younger patients who are likely to need at least one revision in the course of their lives.

To cement or not to cement remains somewhat of an open question in the field of orthopedics.  Short-term studies have suggested that cemented prosthetics have better results than those using hydroxyapatite.  There is a poverty of long-term studies on outcomes for these two different surgical techniques.  The cementless  variety of prosthetic continues to be a popular choice for younger, more active patients.