Orthopedic implants and surgical tools are rapidly changing and developing. From new types of joint replacement materials to arthroscopic instrumentation that allows your surgeon to perform less-invasive surgical techniques, surgical tools and implants are constantly changing. But is every change an improvement?
Unfortunately for patients, every change is usually conveyed to be an improvement, even if we're not sure that is the case. Surgeons using newer devices are often seen as cutting edge, even if the technology may not have long-term data to support its use.
Obviously, the vast majority of doctors want to do what is best for their patients. What worries me is when money clouds these important decisions. Just this week, the FDA has decided to reconsider the approval of an implant used in patients with meniscus problems. It was revealed that the company selling the implant made significant contributions to several politicians who then pressured to FDA to rush the approval of the implant.
Many new products are wonderful advances for patients needing surgery. But I encourage patients to ask their doctor what type of implant they are using, how often they have used it, and do they have any financial ties to the company selling the implant. Be sure your doctor is making the best decision for your long-term health.
What are your thoughts about implant developments? How can we support the development of improvements, without harm to patients? Leave your comments below!
Dr. is there an antiflammatory that a person can take for sciatica pain other an alot of Aleve (6-8) a day when they are also taking Coumadin? Thank you for any suggestion. Judy Luysk
I’ve had a kyphoplasty applied to my T* and T9 disks about 4 weeks ago. Last week I visited the surgeon and viewed the xray with him, He pointed ouy how rectangular the disks have become since we first looked at them. I feel no pain anymore and he released me to normal activities.
The literature seemed to indicate that these procedures are often disappointing. Opinion?
“It was revealed that the company selling the implant made significant contributions to several politicians who then pressured to FDA to rush the approval of the implant” is the key to this article.
Politicians are the main reason for this whole medical reform movement. If we had fair market competition, with oversight by impartial reviewers, we would not be in this mess. Plus we need to have tort reform.
Ok this is my story I need help on…a little over a year ago I was at gymnastics practice and did a toe on hect but missed and landed on my feet but I did something and my knee might have given out and there may have been a pop bit I don’t remember because no one believed me. So about 5 months of what my coach insisted was growing pains I tried track. I do high jump hurtles triple jump. At my first track meet I came out of the starts and heard a pop and it hurt like crazy. I finished the race but culdnt walk after words…the more I attempted to walk the more it loosened and it got better. Unfortunatley it still hurt. Constatly now. My orthopedic took an MRI and just aw a bunch of swelling. He told me not to do anything on it for bout 3 months. 5 months later and it’s still the same…I try to run but it feels really weak and hurts bad. I’m trying diving and even after that I have to ice. It seems like itbis getting worse. O ya, I can’t straighten it ad much as I used to. It use to hyper extend easily and now it can barely straighten. Please let me kno ifbu have any idea what is wrong…I want to get back to the sport I have done for my whole life,..gymnastics.