Multiple Issues With Depuy" s Hip Replacement Systems
DePuy, one of the world's leaders in production of medical devices, has been in the business for over a century and is one of the world's most trusted brands. Johnson & Johnson purchased DePuy in 1998, and the investment has paid dividends; in 2008 alone, DePuy brought in $5 billion in sales revenue. There has been recent news giving people pause regarding their DePuy hip products, however.
In the Fall of 2010, DePuy's hip replacement systems made news when there was a recall issued for the defective ASR device due to its propensity to fail prematurely. Though there has yet to be a DePuy Pinnacle recall, the Pinnacle hip replacement system is also coming under fire. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there have been more than 500 complaints regarding the Pinnacle -- mostly that the product has loosened in patients after just a few years.
While there are differences between the Pinnacle and ASR hip replacement systems, they are similar in that they both utilize metal-on-metal components. Metal-on-metal systems are typically more durable than typical hip replacement systems that consist of a metal ball that fits inside a plastic-lined socket. Because they are designed to last longer, they are often used in younger patients whose priority is to maintain an active lifestyle after hip replacement surgery. One recent study has shown a new risk with metal-on-metal hip replacement systems: The metal components rubbing together heightens the risk that metal particles will flake off and enter the blood stream of the patient, leading to metal toxicity.
Metal toxicity can lead to feelings of malaise or disorientation, but it may also manifest itself through headaches or other typical signs of illness. For this reason, if you have a metal-on-metal hip replacement system such as the Pinnacle, then it is important you take every precaution by seeing a doctor if any potential signs of metal toxicity occur. Not only will going to see a doctor at the earliest stage possible give you the best chance to regain your health, but it will provide you with the documentation necessary to establish a claim against DePuy.
If you have suffered loosening in your Pinnacle device, required revision surgery, or experienced symptoms of metal toxicity, you might have a claim against DePuy and Johnson & Johnson.
In the Fall of 2010, DePuy's hip replacement systems made news when there was a recall issued for the defective ASR device due to its propensity to fail prematurely. Though there has yet to be a DePuy Pinnacle recall, the Pinnacle hip replacement system is also coming under fire. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there have been more than 500 complaints regarding the Pinnacle -- mostly that the product has loosened in patients after just a few years.
While there are differences between the Pinnacle and ASR hip replacement systems, they are similar in that they both utilize metal-on-metal components. Metal-on-metal systems are typically more durable than typical hip replacement systems that consist of a metal ball that fits inside a plastic-lined socket. Because they are designed to last longer, they are often used in younger patients whose priority is to maintain an active lifestyle after hip replacement surgery. One recent study has shown a new risk with metal-on-metal hip replacement systems: The metal components rubbing together heightens the risk that metal particles will flake off and enter the blood stream of the patient, leading to metal toxicity.
Metal toxicity can lead to feelings of malaise or disorientation, but it may also manifest itself through headaches or other typical signs of illness. For this reason, if you have a metal-on-metal hip replacement system such as the Pinnacle, then it is important you take every precaution by seeing a doctor if any potential signs of metal toxicity occur. Not only will going to see a doctor at the earliest stage possible give you the best chance to regain your health, but it will provide you with the documentation necessary to establish a claim against DePuy.
If you have suffered loosening in your Pinnacle device, required revision surgery, or experienced symptoms of metal toxicity, you might have a claim against DePuy and Johnson & Johnson.
Source...