tishmom-
I researched this question, but I would like to know several things:
*Have you discussed this with the orthopedic surgeon who performed the
surgery?
*If you (or the person in question) have a cemented knee prosthesis,
or a non-cemented version.
*How long ago you had this surgery?
*Are you a very active person? An elderly person? This all ahs bearing
on recuperation.
I ask these questions to possibly determine if perhaps any problems
you may be having are due to factors than allergies. While I certainly
believe people can react to plastics, metal, and cements, I have found
no indication whatsoever of anyone having allergies to the plastics
used in these prosthesis. Generally they are made of some sort of
medical grade polymers, such as polyethylene, or polyurethane. While I
can find no information regarding symptoms, treatment, or incidence of
allergies, this site does discuss briefly how small stress cracks can
cause an immune response to the polymers. The site offers no method of
alleviating this rare condition. (I would assume it to be a second
surgery to replace a cracked prosthesis)
http://devicelink.com/expo/minn98/daily/3037.html
This site discusses some other possible allergens following knee
replacement. Allergies have been reported to nickel and isocyanates in
the cement material.
http://www.ao-asif.ch/literature/injury/supplements/vol31/abstracts/sup4/index.shtml
The most common causes of complications (and hence post-surgical pain)
are:
Blood clots, loosening of the prosthesis(which appears to cause
pain),dislocation, excessive wear, and nerve injury(which usually
improves over a period of time).
This site mentions the degredation of both plastic and metal
prosthesis parts. THe article is a request for a grant to study the
sequelae of these particles on the body. Adverse reactions to these
particles apparently exist, but little, if any major research has been
done. This article was posted 5/9/02 and states that over 500,000 knee
replacements are performed each year. The fact that this grant request
is so recent, and it cites the highest number of these surgeries, I
conclude there is little information on this topic yet.
http://www.niams.nih.gov/rtac/funding/grants/pa/pa01-141.htm
This site discusses allergies to Spandex, which contains polymers in
the same family as polyurethane, but the reactions are limited to
topical (skin) and respiratory. Nothing is mentioned of internal
exposure. It did provide me with a few more keywords, TDI and MDI.
However searching for these terms as related to allergies and knee
prosthesis led me to a wild goose chase.(I am including it just for a
bit of reference)
http://latexallergylinks.tripod.com/lycra.html
I am including these sites as well, although I am sure if you or a
family member has had this surgery, you will already be familiar with
this material.
http://www.mydr.com.au/default.asp?article=2747
This site mentions cause and effect of some types of post-surgical
knee replacement pain.
http://www.coloradohealthsite.org/chnqna.html?Orthopedic%20Surgery?Joint%20Replacement%20Surgery?all
If this does not answer your question to your satisfaction, please let
me know and I will do furthur research. I would especially be
interested in knowing when you had the surgery and if you had a
cemented prosthesis, or a non-cemented one, as well as the brand of
prosthesis, should you know it. |
