DePuy Hip Recall Lawsuit Product Liability Attorney

DePuy Lawsuit Information

Attorney Fred Pritzker has represented people injured by defective hip replacements. He is heading up our team of lawyers representing people who had a DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System implanted during hip replacement surgery. Our investigation has found evidence that all patients who had the DePuy hip implanted may have a claim for money damages...

DePuy Hip Recall Lawsuit: Product Liability Attorney Video

Our product liability attorneys are representing several people who have suffered harm as a result of the recalled DePuy metal-on-metal hip implants. Several of our clients have undergone or need to undergo revision surgery. The FDA recently issued a concern regarding metal-on-metal hip implants. The concern outlines the problems with these products and how they are injuring patients. In the video below, Attorney Fred Pritzker discusses the FDA concern and the options you have if you have a DePuy hip implant.

Below is an excerpt of the FDA concerns:

Because the metal ball and the metal cup slide against each other during walking or running, some tiny metal particles may wear off of the device and enter into the space around the implant. Some of the metal ions from the metal implant or from the metal particles may even get into the bloodstream.

Orthopaedic surgeons take several precautions before and during the implantation surgery to try to optimize the way in which the ball and socket rub against each other so that fewer wear particles are produced. However, there is no way to fully avoid the production of metal particles.

Different people will react to these metal particles in different ways. At this time, it is not possible to know who will experience a reaction, what type of reaction they might have, when the reaction will occur, or how severe the reaction will be. However, it is known that over time, the metal particles around some implants can cause damage to bone and/or tissue surrounding the implant and joint. This is sometimes referred to as an “adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR)” or an “adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD).” Such a reaction may cause the implant to become loose or cause pain. Ultimately this can require a revision surgery where the old device is removed and replaced with another one.

In addition to these reactions to metal near the joint and implant, there are some case reports in the literature of a small number of patients in which high levels of metal ions in the bloodstream may have caused other types of symptoms or illnesses elsewhere in the body, including effects on the heart, nervous system, and thyroid gland.

Patients who have MoM hip implants should be aware of potential symptoms which may occur after surgery and indicate that their device is not functioning properly. Common symptoms may include:

Pain in the groin, hip or leg
Swelling at or near the hip joint
A limp or change in walking ability

There are many reasons why any of these symptoms may arise or worsen after surgery and it does not necessarily mean that a reaction to the metal particles from the device is taking place. A thorough evaluation by an orthopaedic surgeon is needed to determine the actual cause. Besides a physical exam of the hip, the orthopaedic surgeon may consider several tests to evaluate these symptoms including:

Special imaging tests
Using a needle to remove fluid from around the joint (joint aspiration)
Blood tests, including checking levels of metal ions in the blood

Patients who receive a MoM hip implant should also pay close attention to changes in their general health or new symptoms outside their hip including symptoms related to their:

Heart (chest pain, shortness of breath)
Nerves (numbness, weakness, change in vision or hearing)
Thyroid (fatigue, feeling cold, weight gain)
Kidney (change in urination habits)

For a free consultation regarding a DePuy hip lawsuit, contact an attorney at Pritzker Olsen at 1-888-277-8900 (toll free) or submit our free consultation form.

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