Metal Hip Implants Draw Criticism for Painful Side Effects
By Christina Drury
Seen as a medical miracle, hip replacements have given many people a second chance by restoring mobility to those suffering from disabling hip arthritis and relieving intense pain. Although hip replacements require major surgery, the success rate of these types of surgeries is relatively high. Incredibly durable, hip implants often do not require revision for the better part of a decade or longer. However, one of the newest hip replacement devices on the market, the DePuy ASR metal-on-metal hip implant, has had catastrophic results. Thousands Choose Metal-on-Metal Hip over Standard Implant
Standard hip replacement devices use a metal ball that is designed to fit into a plastic socket and have been known to last several years. The DePuy metal-on-metal hip implant offered a metal ball that fit into a metal socket and was supposed to be more durable and allow patients to lead a more active life style. After this new metal-on-metal hip replacement was released into the medical community, thousands of patients opted to have the new device implanted over the standard type.
Failure Rate of Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants Disturbingly High
The results of the new all metal hip implants have been catastrophic. These artificial hips have been failing at a disturbingly high rate and have required many of the recipients to undergo revision surgeries up to four times more often than patients who received a standard hip implant. It has also been alleged that these so-called “miracle implants” were never even shown to be safe or effective. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, an FDA loophole known as the 510K process allowed several brands of metal-on-metal hip implants to be released without proving their safety. This process allows medical devices to be used within the medical community as long as it has been proven to be substantially equal to a device that has already been approved, such as the standard implant.
Johnson & Johnson Side-Stepped Full Testing of DePuy ASR
Johnson & Johnson was able to prove that the components that made up the DePuy ASR were substantially equal to its hip replacement counterparts, but never actually had to prove that each component in the new device worked together. This loophole in FDA procedures, which allows these types of devices that are implanted with major surgery to so easily make it into the medical market, is a disconcerting process that needs to be reviewed. Several patients who have received metal-on-metal hip implants have subsequently suffered from serious injuries, such as bone and tissue damage around the joint and the device.
Lawsuits Filed Against Metal Hip Implant Manufacturers
If you or a loved one received a metal-on-metal hip replacement device and suffered serious side effects or injury, you may be eligible to receive compensation. Please visit the DePuy, Biomet, Wright Medical Technology & Others, Metal on Metal Hip Implant Class Action Lawsuit Investigation for more information about filing your own hip implant lawsuit and seeking a settlement for your injuries.
Updated January 17th, 2013
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