Question

My grandmother recently had a hip replacement and is having problems with 'the screws backing out' (that's what the doctor said). She has osteoporosis, and has been on prednisone in the past. Is this a common problem and what are your suggestions?

Answer

We can understand your concern about your grandmother, but the best person to ask advice from is the surgeon who did the operation.
 

Loosening of the prosthesis from the bone, or the screws loosening after a hip replacement is the most important long-term problem. How long the bond will last depends on a number of factors, among them being the quality of the bones. The harder (denser) the bones are, the better the bond will be, and the longer the replacement will last. You mention that your grandmother has osteoporosis. People with osteoporosis have especially soft bones.
Other factors are:
- How well the surgery is done.
- How active you are.
- Excessive strain on the implant; this can cause the bond to loosen. Activities such as running and heavy lifting should be avoided. The key here is to use common sense.
- Your weight. You should keep your weight down because every pound you gain adds three pounds to the force on the hip.
- Whether or not the implant is cemented.
- The design of the implant. Small abrasion particles from the implant may play a role in implant loosening. Plastic surfaces shed more particles than metal or ceramic ones.
 

So you have a lot to ask your surgeon!

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