The first hip replacement was performed in 1962. Hip replacements are now commonplace. Each year, more than 285,000 Americans receive artificial hips. In general, patients who receive artificial hips have increased mobility, less pain and a better quality of life. However, a hip replacement can sometimes cause additional pain and damage.
The DePuy Hip replacement was introduced in 2005. Doctors applauded the innovative design and began to use the implant in surgeries. But unfortunately, many patients didn’t see the results they expected and experienced increased pain and stiffness.
The Dangers of DePuy Hip Implants:
In 2010, Johnson and Johnson reported that the hip implant had a higher than normal failure rate. This wasn’t the only problem -- as the parts of the artificial hip rubbed together, metal debris was released into the body causing serious side effects like:
- Metallosis: The metal-on-metal ASR hip implants are designed in a way that causes the metal components to rub against each other during daily use. This causes the metal to break down, releasing metal ions into the bloodstream and the surrounding tissues. The body’s immune system recognizes the metal particles as foreign. Additionally, metallosis has been linked to cancer.
- Metal Poisoning: Recipients of DePuy ASR Acetabular hip replacement systems have been known to have cobalt levels well over 100 micrograms per liter, and even as high as 500 micrograms per liter. A little bit of cobalt is good, but normal levels of cobalt range from 0.3 to 1 microgram per liter of blood. Cobalt poisoning occurs when there are 25 or more micrograms cobalt per liter of blood.
More than 12,000 Americans have needed painful and risky hip revision surgery.
Get the Information You Need!
The personal injury attorneys at Hupy and Abraham are dedicated to helping those who are harmed by dangerous and defective products. We’ve made this report available at no charge to all residents of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. If you needed hip revision surgery, it is important that you are informed about your rights. If you have additional questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call us at 800-800-5678.
