Defects in Artificial Hips- the DePuy ASR Hip Replacement System
Posted by John Sedgewick - 19/04/11 at 10:04 amIt has been estimated that 90,000 patients have had hip replacement surgery in which the DePuy ASR metal-on-metal prosthesis was implanted. The metal-on-metal design, which sounds like a bad idea to begin with, was sold as an improvement over metal-on-plastic designs. DePuy promised that it would last longer, be more comfortable and cause fewer orthopedic complications than prior designs.
Unfortunately, for thousands of people the surgery has not worked out well. Although DePuy has recalled the products, and although it does not agree with its critics, some researchers have concluded that the DePuy ASR metal-on-metal prosthesis is poorly designed and is poisoning people with heavy metals.
One theory of how this happens is that the metal components of the implanted hip joint, one in the top of the femur and one in the pelvis, grind against each other, creating tiny metal shavings. These shavings, which can be microscopic, include bits of chromium and cobalt, two highly poisonous materials. The poisons travel throughout the body, causing a reaction in the immune system generally known as metallosis.
Metallosis is known to destroy bone and muscle. It can result in spontaneous joint dislocation, pain and fatigue. It is suspected of causing heart problems, kidney failure and cancer.
DePuy has been criticized not only for defects in the design of its ASR metal-on-metal hip replacement hardware, but also for being slow to respond to problems as they were discovered. DePuy has been accused of continuing to sell defective hip replacement hardware in the U.S. even as it was recalling the same product in other parts of the world.
People who have had DePuy ASR hip replacements report suffering with many of the symptoms of metallosis, as well as severe pain at the site of their surgery. Thousands of U.S. citizens have already filed suits against DePuy. Most of those cases are being handled as part of an MDL (Multi-District Litigation), a method used by courts across the country to consolidate similar cases before one judge. The purpose of this approach is to minimize the cost of litigation for both sides, and to give plaintiffs access to the best and most knowledgeable experts without have to fund an independent analysis of the facts and medical issues in each case.
If you believe that you are suffering as a result of a defective hip prosthesis, you can contact one of the law firms advertising on the internet for such cases or contact a local lawyer with knowledge of similar cases. The local attorney may be able to help you by handling the case by himself or herself or by associating with one of the coalitions of plaintiffs’ lawyers handling similar cases on a national basis.
Some patients who suffer with post-surgical hip joint failure may believe that their problems are caused by a surgeon who made mistakes during the surgery. Sometimes they are right about that. However, sometimes it is not the surgeon but the hip replacement hardware that is the source of the patient’s trouble.
We at Berman and Simmons can analyze both the medical malpractice issues and the product liability issues. In Maine, there is generally a three year statute of limitations applicable to medical malpractice cases and a six year statute of limitations applicable to product liability cases. These rules are not the same in every state and are not necessarily the same in every case, so please call us if you want insight into your case or a particular situation that you have heard about. We will be glad to talk to you.
