Vanishing Bone: Conquering a Stealth Disease Caused by Total Hip Replacements
When dozens of holes appeared in a patient's femur alongside his hip prosthesis, experts were baffled as such a phenomenon had never been seen before. Over the first four decades of total hip surgery, the severe bone destruction multiplied, crippling many thousands of patients. Eventually identified as "periprosthetic osteolysis," this devastating disease affected over 1 million patients and was the leading cause of failure in total hip surgery. While total hip surgery dramatically reversed severe arthritis of the hip, the same operation simultaneously created a relentless 'particle generator' in the body. Ironically, in the effort to do good, doctors were simultaneously doing major harm. Vanishing Bone: Conquering a Stealth Disease Caused by Total Hip Replacements takes readers on a detective adventure in contemporary medical science, from the identification of the cause of the disease through the complex process of affecting its cure. Dr. William H. Harris and his colleagues played an important role in solving the mystery of this disease, pointing to its molecular biology, recognizing the unusual wear of the prostheses, and ultimately developing a new material for use in the manufacture of hip implants. With more than 6 million people walking on this stable, low-wear material, the disease has been virtually eliminated among those with total hip replacements worldwide. Diseases are rarely observed, revealed, and eliminated in one lifetime. Vanishing Bone tells the captivating story of one such disease through an engaging account of scientific and medical innovation.
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Vanishing Bone: Conquering a Stealth Disease Caused by Total Hip Replacements
When dozens of holes appeared in a patient's femur alongside his hip prosthesis, experts were baffled as such a phenomenon had never been seen before. Over the first four decades of total hip surgery, the severe bone destruction multiplied, crippling many thousands of patients. Eventually identified as "periprosthetic osteolysis," this devastating disease affected over 1 million patients and was the leading cause of failure in total hip surgery. While total hip surgery dramatically reversed severe arthritis of the hip, the same operation simultaneously created a relentless 'particle generator' in the body. Ironically, in the effort to do good, doctors were simultaneously doing major harm. Vanishing Bone: Conquering a Stealth Disease Caused by Total Hip Replacements takes readers on a detective adventure in contemporary medical science, from the identification of the cause of the disease through the complex process of affecting its cure. Dr. William H. Harris and his colleagues played an important role in solving the mystery of this disease, pointing to its molecular biology, recognizing the unusual wear of the prostheses, and ultimately developing a new material for use in the manufacture of hip implants. With more than 6 million people walking on this stable, low-wear material, the disease has been virtually eliminated among those with total hip replacements worldwide. Diseases are rarely observed, revealed, and eliminated in one lifetime. Vanishing Bone tells the captivating story of one such disease through an engaging account of scientific and medical innovation.
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Vanishing Bone: Conquering a Stealth Disease Caused by Total Hip Replacements

Vanishing Bone: Conquering a Stealth Disease Caused by Total Hip Replacements

by William H. Harris MD, DSc
Vanishing Bone: Conquering a Stealth Disease Caused by Total Hip Replacements

Vanishing Bone: Conquering a Stealth Disease Caused by Total Hip Replacements

by William H. Harris MD, DSc

eBook

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Overview

When dozens of holes appeared in a patient's femur alongside his hip prosthesis, experts were baffled as such a phenomenon had never been seen before. Over the first four decades of total hip surgery, the severe bone destruction multiplied, crippling many thousands of patients. Eventually identified as "periprosthetic osteolysis," this devastating disease affected over 1 million patients and was the leading cause of failure in total hip surgery. While total hip surgery dramatically reversed severe arthritis of the hip, the same operation simultaneously created a relentless 'particle generator' in the body. Ironically, in the effort to do good, doctors were simultaneously doing major harm. Vanishing Bone: Conquering a Stealth Disease Caused by Total Hip Replacements takes readers on a detective adventure in contemporary medical science, from the identification of the cause of the disease through the complex process of affecting its cure. Dr. William H. Harris and his colleagues played an important role in solving the mystery of this disease, pointing to its molecular biology, recognizing the unusual wear of the prostheses, and ultimately developing a new material for use in the manufacture of hip implants. With more than 6 million people walking on this stable, low-wear material, the disease has been virtually eliminated among those with total hip replacements worldwide. Diseases are rarely observed, revealed, and eliminated in one lifetime. Vanishing Bone tells the captivating story of one such disease through an engaging account of scientific and medical innovation.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780190687786
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication date: 12/01/2017
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 208
File size: 3 MB

About the Author

William H. Harris, MD, DSc is the Alan Gerry Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emeritus at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. The Harris Orthopaedic Laboratory at Massachusetts General was founded in 1969 and directed by Dr. Harris until 2004.

Table of Contents

Part I. Astonishing Discoveries Chapter 1: The Game is Afoot! Chapter 2: The Cart Before the Horse Chapter 3: Uniquely Creative, but Dangerous Chapter 4: The First Real Breakthrough Chapter 5: Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch… Chapter 6: Is It Really Cement Disease? Chapter 7: An Unexpected First Step Chapter 8: Flying Blind Chapter 9: The Gamble Pays Off Chapter 10: Success at Last! Part II. Final Hurdles Chapter 11: Terra Incognita: Here Be Dragons Chapter 12: Suddenly, to the FDA Chapter 13: A Regrettable Diversion Chapter 14: Unforeseen Complications Chapter 15: Panic Chapter 16: Ubiquitous Success Chapter 17: Reprise: The Reward of the Clinician-Scientist Part III. Appendix Further Reading Timeline of Key Events About the Author
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