Wright Medical Technology, Inc. is an ISO certified company that has been manufacturing and distributing orthopedic equipment for more than 60 years. The company has more than 1400 employees working in almost 90 different countries. The company specializes in
- Large joint implants i.e. hip and knee joint implants
- Extremity implants for shoulder, hand, foot etc.
- Biological implants including bone graft substitute
Wright’s Hip Products
Tissue-Sparing Techniques
PATH Minimally Invasive Total Hip Arthroplasty
SUPERCAP Tissue Preserving Total Hip Arthroplasty
SUPERPATH™ Micro-Posterior™ Approach
Resurfacing
CONSERVE Femoral Surface Replacement
CONSERVE PLUS Total Resurfacing Hip System
Hard Bearings – Acetabulum
CONSERVE Total A-CLASS Advanced Metal with BFH Technology Hip System
CONSERVE Total Hip System with BFH Technology
LINEAGE Acetabular Cup System (Ceramic)
LINEAGE Acetabular Cup System (Metal)
Acetabular Systems
DYNASTY Acetabular Cup System
GLADIATOR Bipolar Hip System
INTERSEAL Acetabular Cup System
LINEAGE Acetabular Cup System (Polyethylene)
PROCOTYLE Acetabular Cup System
Femoral Stems – Non-cemented
PERFECTA Plasma Spray Hip Stems
PERFECTA RS Hip Stems
PROFEMUR E Hip Stem
PROFEMUR FC Hip Stem
PROFEMUR LX 5/8 Hip Stem
PROFEMUR PLASMA Z Hip Stem
PROFEMUR RENAISSANCE® Hip Stem
PROFEMUR TL Hip Stem
PROFEMUR Total Hip System
PROFEMUR Z Hip Stem
Femoral Stems – Cemented
PERFECTA IMC Stems
Femoral Stems – Cemented and Cementless
PERFECTA PDA Stems
PERFECTA RS & IMC Slim Neck
PERFECTA Total Hip System
Revision Systems
LINK MP™ Reconstruction Hip Stem
PROFEMUR LX 5/8 Revision Stem
PROFEMUR R Revision System
CONSERVE Hip System
CONSERVE Femoral Surface Replacement
Is designed for young and active patients who had osteonecrosis of the femoral head in the past. It is engineered to restore normal joint motility with greater stability. Its tapered stem provides proper alignment while the cobalt chromium head provides the articular surface. Most of the bone is conserved in this procedure which allows revision surgery in case of failure.
CONSERVE Total Hip System with BFH Technology
Has been engineered to mimic the natural hip joint. This whole apparatus includes an acetabular cup and femoral head with cemented or cementless stem. The two articular surfaces are made up of highly polished Cobalt Chromium surfaces. No liner is used between the articular surfaces. It is documented that a large femoral head may reduce the incidence of dislocation and may enable early return to activities postoperatively.
CONSERVE Total A-CLASS Advanced Metal with BFH Technology Hip System
Is a patent-pending product that is engineered in a way to decrease its wear 10 fold. This A-CLASS product is proposed to be superior to all other products because of a 68% reduction in lifetime wear of the implant. The ease of use and minimally invasive surgical procedure outclasses this product from all the previous versions.
PROFEMUR Z Hip Stem
PROFEMUR Z hip stem is designed for a minimally invasive procedure which reduces the brief post-operative rest and fast recovery. The rectangular thin stem provides greater tensile strength, better stability, proper fixation and rotational stability. The stem has six interchangeable neck pieces of different length. These pieces are engineered to provide a spectrum ranging from minimally invasive surgery to complex revision surgery.
The harmful effects of the CONSERVE Hip System and PROFEMURZ Hip Stem
Pain:
It is very common complication especially in the younger patients. Almost 20% of patients complain of post-operative pain at the site of implantation. It is usually associated with signs of inflammation i.e. redness, tenderness, swelling, warmth etc.
Metallosis:
The deposition of metal debris resulting in increased plasma concentration of metals, results from shaving off metals by friction. In a recent study, it was demonstrated that almost all the patients suffer from severe metallosis after 10 year of metal-on-metal implant.
Dislocation or Loosing:
Surfaces of the implant can wear down and loosen leading to complications and joint dislocation.
Fractures:
In older ages, the bone becomes too weak to support the metal implant and fractures. This complication is more common in post-menopausal females.
Revision Surgery After Device Failure:
There are a variety of problems than can lead to revision surgery. Mechanical failure, infection and recurrent hip dislocation can all prompt a doctor to consider a revision surgery. Often the revision surgery is more dangerous than the initial surgery and can further damage the area of the implant.
Wright Medical Hip Side Effects
People for whom repeated broken hips or hip discomfort, or those who lack of mobility in their natural hip joints opt for the installation a hip replacement device. An artificial hip can restore comfort and movement, and reduce the risk for serious complications related to broken hips. However, many patients who have undergone hip replacement surgery have found their situation worsened by the procedure. There are multiple manufacturers of hip replacement devices and most have created and marketed products that have triggered problems. Wright Medical Technology is no exception. Their Conserve and Profemur hip replacement systems have caused a variety of problems for users.
The Conserve and Profermur replacements are metal-on-metal devices, the type of replacement usually known for causing problems. The metal-on-metal components trigger a reaction that releases metal particles into the body through friction. This affects the tissue surrounding the area around the joint and causes the muscle and bone to wear away. Eventually the implant loosens and malfunctions. Additionally, the release of metal into the body can result in metallosis, which is essentially metal poisoning.
Symptoms of a malfunctioning Wright Medical hip implant vary, but include:
- Pain and discomfort in the lower back and groin
- Loosening of the implant that could cause popping or squeaking noises
- Difficulty standing or walking
- Inflammation and fluid build up
- Symptoms related to metallosis, including fatigue, headaches, skin rash, swelling, gastrointestinal issues, confusion, and recurring infection
Notwithstanding claims relating to this product, the drug/medical device remains approved by the U.S. FDA.
Sources
- Smit, M.J., Hip stability in primary total hip arthroplasty using an anatomically sized femoral head. Orthopedics, 2009. 32(7): p. 489. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19634854
- Sturup, J., et al., Few adverse reactions to metal on metal articulation in total hip arthroplasty in a review study on 358 consecutive cases with 1 to 5 years follow-up. Open Orthop J, 2012. 6: p. 366-70. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22930667
- Gross, T.P. and F. Liu, Incidence of adverse wear reactions in hip resurfacing arthroplasty: a single surgeon series of 2,600 cases. Hip Int, 2013. 23(3): p. 250-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23760745
- Lardanchet, J.F., et al., One-year prospective comparative study of three large-diameter metal-on-metal total hip prostheses: serum metal ion levels and clinical outcomes. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res, 2012. 98(3): p. 265-74. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22480865
- Bowsher, J.G., et al., Surface damage after multiple dislocations of a 38-mm-diameter, metal-on-metal hip prosthesis. J Arthroplasty, 2008. 23(7): p. 1090-6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18534503
- Beaule, P.E., et al., Jumbo femoral head for the treatment of recurrent dislocation following total hip replacement. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2002. 84-A(2): p. 256-63. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11861732
