Recalled DePuy ASR Hip Implants Leach Metal Debris, Ions

The ASR XL Acetabular hip implant system recalled by DePuy Orthopaedics  (a branch of Johnson & Johnson) on August 26, 2010 is a metal-on-metal hip replacement. The device has exhibited a failure rate of 12-13% within five years of placement, requiring 1 in 8 patients to undergo a second "revision" surgery to remove the defective prosthesis. One of the long-term concerns with the ASR is that it has been found to shed metal debris and ions in the body.

 

Corrosion apparently forms at the juncture of the metal ball and socket in close proximity to the acetabular notch in the lower part of the hip. The notch, a channel for nerves and blood vessels, creates a major gateway for toxic ions to enter the bloodstream. Additionally, metal debris from wear migrates into the surrounding soft tissue where it forms non-cancerous inflammatory tumors and ignites allergic metal reactions in some patients. Consequently, swelling, inflammation, and fever in the hip are major early warning signs of implant failure.

 

Patients who have received the DePuy ASR hips have also been found to have elevated levels of both chromium and cobalt in their bloodstream. Just three months before the U.S. recall, The London Times reported that 40,000 of the ASR hips were being reviewed in England for symptoms related to metal debris, described by physicians as "aggressive clinical metal inflammatory failure."

 

The possibility of metal poisoning, via debris or ion migration, adds insult to injury in the case of the DePuy hip recall. These patients have not only been forced to undergo a second major surgery to replace the device, but they have contaminants in their bodies with no real long-term understanding of what that may mean for their overall health.

 

While DePuy has offered to pay some medical compensation, in practice the company has attempted to recompense patients for out-of-pocket medical expenses only. This means DePuy hasn't acknowledged the issue of metallic poisoning, but the evidence is piling up and people who have received these device are entitled to damages and potentially to compensation for future medical expenses. Also the company is trying to negate an pain and suffering liability.

 

DePuy has attempted to blame surgeons for improperly placing the devices, but the consensus in the medical community is that the ASR hips were poorly designed and were left on the market two years after the FDA had received more than 400 complaints about high early failure rates.

 

For more information on the DePuy hip recall, contact a hip recall lawyer immediately. A hip recall attorney experienced with the hip replacement recall will be able to assist you or your loved ones to the best extent of the law.

 

Comments

[JST Books]

Over 70,000 hip replacement operations have been carried out in Ireland since the DePuy ASR hip replacement systems were first used in 2003. The major problem with the DePuy ASR hip replacement system is the rate of wear and tear between the implant and the bone. Compensation claims are inevitable from those who will have to undergo revision surgery due to the wear and tear factor leading to inflammation around the hip and groin, the possible loosening or dislocation of the hip implant, and the potential for a hip fracture due to the weaker bone. To discuss more about DePuy Compensation claims visit http://www.medicalnegligenceie.com/depuy-asr-hip-device-compensation-claims/.

[Linkmommy]

Look what victims of failing DePuy Hip Implants going through http://t.co/Dx0y4sb

[Haine Vang]

When pieces of the unit may come loose, it deposits metal fragments in every single tissues and bloodstream. This could really be very horrible and fatal. My granny was just so thankful we have read a free brochure from http://www.hiprecalllaw.com. They helped us pursue after the manufacturer of the DePuy.

[Haine Vang]

The site I post above is a DePuy Hip Replacement agency. They are very warm people.

[Jones Wright]

Compensation claims are inevitable from those who will have to undergo revision surgery due to the wear and tear factor leading to inflammation around the hip and groin, the possible loosening or dislocation of the hip implant, and the potential for a hip fracture due to the weaker bone.