The new technology that has swept the hip- and knee-replacement field is no better than the old technology, a recent study found.
The now-popular metal and ceramic implants not only are more expensive than the older plastic devices, they also can be detrimental to patients, Australian researchers reported in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. The researchers said 30 percent of the metal and ceramic joints have performed worse than the plastic joints, requiring many patients to have additional surgeries.
The new technology has had “limited or no clinical evidence to justify" its use and contributes to increased health-care costs, the researchers said.
The issue already has impacted the United States, where an estimated 700,000 patients have hip or knee replacements every year. Negative results from the new implants prompted the Food and Drug Administration to conduct a study that came to the same conclusion as the Australian study: Newer isn’t always better.