Uppsala (LabNews Media LLC) – A new dual mobility hip implant reduces the risk of joint dislocation by 70 percent in older patients with proximal femoral fractures. This is shown by a large randomized study from Sweden and Great Britain.
In the study involving 1,600 patients aged 65 and over, the dislocation rate after one year was 1.3 percent in the dual mobility group, compared to 4.2 percent with standard implants. The overall rate of surgical complications was also lower.
The implant consists of a small ball embedded in a larger plastic ball, offering greater stability. It does not require new technology or additional training for surgeons and can therefore be used immediately in clinical practice.
"It is extremely painful when a hip implant dislocates. The patients then require sedation or further surgery," explained Nils Hailer from Uppsala University, one of the study leaders. Dislocation significantly impairs quality of life and also burdens the healthcare system.
The study was published in the journal The Lancet. The researchers see the implant as a way to significantly reduce complications in a particularly vulnerable patient group without causing additional costs or effort.
