Metal Hip Replacement Airport Security

For many years patients were given wallet sized id cards from their doctor to inform the security personnel of their implanted metal.

Metal hip replacement airport security.

Metal implants in the body including joint replacements plates screws and rods can set off metal detectors during airport security screenings. 1 many implants now include ceramic and plastic materials in addition to metal and the metal will still likely cause an alarm in the. You ll be able to go through a separate detector or an. They also state that the implant may set off metal detection devices.

Re the airport that did not set off the alarms i asked the person at the security entry if their system was working as this was the only one that did not react to her hip replacements in 4yrs and some 15 flights he just shrugged his shoulders and said everything was working ok we were a little worried on this flight and 2 hrs later arrived. Keep your joint replacement card with you when you travel in case you need to present proof of your implant. Whether you ve had a knee or hip replacement or another type of metal implant fitted following an injury or operation it can be nerve wracking going through airport security. One of the most frequently asked questions i receive from patients is whether their hip or knee replacement will set off the metal detector when they go though airport security.

Obviously there is nothing you can do to change this. Belt buckles key chains and smartphones may set off sensitive metal detectors at airport security checkpoints. One study s author cautioned joint replacement patients to expect some delay most of the time but it shouldn t be a terrible inconvenience full body scanners now found in many airports accomplish a security scan without the worry of your metal replacement joint setting off an alarm. Although it can be inconvenient setting the alarms off at airport security it may help you to know what to do and what to expect when placed in that situation.

One thing to know if you ve had a hip or knee replaced you are probably worried about going through airport security. The answer is a probably not but maybe yes and is not that simple. We ll show you the one thing to do. If you have any questions or concerns about airport security screening call the transportation security administration at 866 289 9673 or visit the tsa website.

Doc will my hip replacement beep at the airport. Over 90 of implanted total hip and knee arthroplasty devices will set off airport metal detectors. If you have a hip replacement knee replacement a metal plate and screws a metal rod inside your bone or one of many other types of orthopedic implants you may set off the airport metal detector we used to give patients a card to carry to inform the security staff of your implanted device however there is no need to continue to use.