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DePuy Hip Metal Shavings

The DePuy ASR XL Hip Implant was marketed to active patients as a more durable, longer lasting hip implant due to its unique metal-on-metal design.  Unfortunately, the side effects caused by the metal construction of the device were among the most significant factors in its recall.

Traditionally, hip implant devices consisted of a ball and cup made of metal and plastic or metal and ceramic.  The metal-on-metal design utilized by DePuy, while potentially reducing wear, also has the potential of shedding metal shavings into the body which are inherent in any metal-on-metal ball and socket system.

Health experts have increasingly warned about the potential severe side effects of metal shavings in the body, which can include allergic reactions, bone loss, soft tissue damage, vision or hearing problems or even tumors and cancer.

Genotoxicity, or metallic poisoning, can result in the breakdown of bone marrow or white blood cells. A study last year in the United Kingdom of 660 DePuy Hip Implant patients also linked metallic poisoning to problems such as vision loss, soft tissue and muscle damage, hearing loss and hip pain. 

The National Institute of Health has published reports relating the metal in DePuy hip implants to aggressive inflammation and poisoning.  Experts have even related the effects of genotoxicity to cancer or hereditary defects if the toxic metals reach the reproductive organs near the pelvic region.

Dangerous metals like chromium and cobalt can also enter the bloodstream and tissue through the lower portion of the hip and have shown increased levels in DePuy Hip patients. These metals have been shown to produce tumors which may cause pain or prevent further surgeries to the hip area.

If you or someone you love received a DePuy Hip Implant since 2005, it is important to consult with your doctor to evaluate for hip failure and undergo testing for toxic metals in your bloodstream.  You should also speak with a DePuy Hip Attorney about your legal rights.

Since its release in 2005, nearly 1,000 patients have reported problems with the DePuy Hip Implant.  Between 2007 and 2009 alone, doctors reported over 600 cases to the FDA of patients returning with problems so severe that they required surgery to remove their implants.

A large percentage of the DePuy Hip Implant failures can be attributed to the tendency of the device to release metal shavings into the body and the complications these particles can cause.

Experts estimate that more than 13% of DePuy Hip patients will need to undergo surgery to replace their implant.  Many of these could suffer from allergic reactions, bone loss, soft tissue damage, vision or hearing problems, tumors or even cancer associated with metallic poisoning.

As part of the DePuy Hip Recall issued on August 26, 2010, the company has indicated it will pay “reasonable and customary costs of monitoring and treatment” related to the recalled hip implants.  This may include the cost of revision surgery, however, it does not compensate patients for pain and suffering, lost time or wages, or the risk of undergoing a repeat surgery.

DePuy is also asking patients to sign a medical release and turn over the faulty hip implant device if it is removed.  IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU NOT AGREE TO THIS.

The defective DePuy Hip Implant is the most important piece of evidence in any claim for damages, therefore if you have it removed it should be tested by an independent third party for defects.  Agreeing to release your medical records and return the faulty device may severely limit your future legal rights. 

If you received a DePuy Hip Implant beginning in 2005, contact us today to speak with a qualified DePuy Hip Attorney about your legal rights. Lawyers are currently filing DePuy Hip Lawsuits and are available 24 hours a day for a free consultation of your case.  Time to file a claim is limited.