In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration released a report last October 2010 concerning DePuy Orthopaedics with the issue of manufacturing defective metal-on-metal hip replacements. The FDA report explains the scope of the DePuy hip recall on its metal hip implants. The ASL XL Acetabular System and the ASL Hip Resurfacing System are the subjects of close scrutiny now. The FDA report divides the defective hip implants into two series, namely the ASR 100 and the ASR 300. The ASR 100 series involves 15 models created for hip cup diameters from 44mm to 70mm, while the ASR 300 series specifies the remaining 14 models with the same range of diameters.

According to the FDA, DePuy is still evaluating data from registries, published news and literature, clinical tests and research reports. These make up the entirety of the post-market surveillance of the company. They also received new findings from tests indicating that the ASR XL Monoblock Metal-on-Metal (MoM) was correlated with a higher tendency of revision surgeries. Studies also reveal that the ASR devices have a 12% failure rate. DePuy then sent out a Field Safety Notice to surgeons, reiterating the need to position the implant correctly to achieve optimum functionality.

The report also explains that MoM monoblock cups, and their consequent loosening, cause infection, inflammation, pain, fracture, metal sensitivity and many more complications for the recipients. However, metallosis, which is probably the most dangerous complication, was not mentioned. This is described as the increased cobalt and chromium levels in the blood at toxic levels, enough to predispose the patient to serious and irreversible heart problems and nervous system damage.

In response to the DePuy hip recall, the FDA might have acted a bit late. Nevertheless, it is not too late for you to act on your own cause. You deserve to claim compensatory damages from a defective ASR device. Hire a hip recall lawyer so you can be helped out in filing a lawsuit against the company.

The recalled hip implants manufactured by DePuy Orthopaedics have caused a number of physical ailments to their recipients: severe pain, difficulty in movement and headache, to name a few. How these clinical symptoms present themselves ultimately defeat the purpose of a hip replacement. After all, hip replacement patients all go under the knife for treatment, and not to suffer the consequences of the negligence of an irresponsible company such as DePuy. Implants that belong to the ASR Acetabular and the ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems are now being recalled by the company.

Dr. Stephen S. Tower, an experienced orthopedist, argues that the effects of the defective implants do not just cause symptoms of pain and movement difficulties. Hip implants are made from metal, namely cobalt and chromium. The defects in the implants cause a friction-like occurrence which results in the leak of metal ions into the bloodstream. This is called ‘metallosis’, wherein cobalt and/or chromium levels in the blood increase at almost-toxic values. The normal value of cobalt levels in the blood is less than .19 mg/L. If they reach at 5 mg/L, these would cause symptoms indicating endocrine damage and nervous system involvement, such as deafness, tinnitus, vertigo, blindness, seizures, headaches, and hypothyroidism. Eventually, heart problems can arise due to high cobalt levels in the blood. This is similar to the term ‘beer drinker’s cardiomyopathy’, where cobalt substances in beer are linked to cardiac ailments. According to Dr. Tower, it is actually better to consider a non metal-on-metal hip implant.

If grave complications such as cardiomyopathy are already present, it may be difficult to perform a revision surgery, because the risks are even more serious because of the anesthesia. Before a second hip replacement is performed, the condition of the patient should be stabilized first.

Seeing a medical expert should be your priority, especially in the presence of heart ailments. After that, a hip recall lawyer can be consulted to file a lawsuit against the company. Pressing charges will help you receive the damages that you have incurred from the DePuy hip replacement recall.

Suffering from a major hip disorder is not the usual challenge you face every day, like catching a cold or getting back pains. Without a normal hip, you cannot possibly go through your daily routine smoothly. The only way to treat this kind of ailment is to undergo a hip replacement surgery, after your doctor says so, of course. This kind of operation involves the invasive technique of installing a metal-on-metal hip implant to replace your damaged joint. Think about how important that metal device is, how a significant part of your life, and well-being, depends on it...

DePuy Orthopaedics is an international manufacturer of a few models of hip implants. Being a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, people will most likely trust this company for top-of-the-line quality products. Hip implants should withstand 15 years of usage, and within this time frame, their therapeutic effects are highly expected. For DePuy hip implants, however, do not let your hopes fly that high. It appears that the 13% failure rate of their implants breaks this 15-year feat.They can only serve their purpose for five years, and even less. Their implants perform so poorly that it is not even worth considering them as an option. What kind of absurdity is this?

Dr. Thomas P. Sculco, a surgeon from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, has stated his utter disdain in DePuy’s lack of responsibility and professionalism in manufacturing such defective implants. He notes that patients at 50 years of age who are indicated for a hip replacement surgery hope for a successful post-operative state, in both short-term and long-term states. Patients, after all, expect a successful outcome following any kind of elective surgery, especially if they have painstakingly invested thousands of dollars for such operation, not to mention the effort and time that was shed. DePuy’s negligence apparently betrayed the trust of thousands of loyal patrons, which may be the reason why their sales have only increased in a slight percentage this year.

Now, the victims of the DePuy hip recall are clamoring for justice and fair compensation from all the damages that they have went through. DePuy ought to take this seriously, to avoid more lawsuits filed against them. The whole world is in tune, and everybody will keep an eye out for the verdict.

Source: The Numbers Are Quite Good—Except for DePuy Hip Replacement