Hip Implant Medical Devices-Depuy, Stryker, Wright-Failing at an Alarming Rate

Hip implant medical devices are failing at an alarming rate and are on track to be known as one of the biggest medical testing failures in history.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration received more than 5,000 complaints about hip implant devices between January and August of 2011, more than the agency had received in the previous four years combined. Most of these complaints deal with metal-on-metal hip replacements. The obvious conclusion is that the failure rate of these devices – some 500,000 of which have been implanted – is increasing.

A growing number of individuals also have reported suffering catastrophic hip implant failure after receiving a Wright Profemur hip replacement. These hip systems may fail within a few years of surgery, resulting in severe pain, additional hip revision surgery and permanent injury.

These hip implant devices were not tested on patients prior to being rushed to market. Because of this, patients injured by these devices have the right to hold implant manufacturers responsible. While a lawsuit cannot ease suffering or restore function, it can help pay medical expenses and compensate for wages and other losses. An experienced medical devices attorney with Janet, Jenner & Suggs can review your situation and advise you. All consultations are free of charge.

Consumer Alert

The following hip replacement medical devices have been recalled for high rates of failure or other problems:

• DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Systems
• DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems
• Stryker Trident PSL
• Stryker Trident Hemispherical Acetabular Cup
• Wright Profemur
• Zimmer Durom Cup

If you received one of these implants, you should talk to your doctor about the risk of hip implant failure.

ASR Hip Implant Failure and Metal Poisoning

The majority of complaints to the government have focused on ASR systems. This system involves a metal ball that fits into a metal socket. The metals are usually chromium or cobalt. The rubbing action can flake small bits of these metals into the blood stream, causing metal poisoning. Specialized blood tests can be used to detect levels of these toxic metals in ASR Hip Replacement patients. In some cases, patients with DePuy ASR implants have been found with 100 times the normal level. Symptoms of chromium and cobalt poisoning and general implant failure include:

• Pain and irritation
• Swelling and inflammation
• Weakness
• Tendon damage
• Tumor growth
• Difficulty walking

Total Hip Implant Failure

In severe cases, the ASR hip and other systems can fail entirely. This can occur in a variety of ways, including:

• The implant does not remain affixed to the bone correctly and becomes loose
• The implant bearing and cup misalign, resulting in a dislocation
• The bone structure around the implant fractures or breaks

Contact your physician immediately if you experience any of the above signs or symptoms. Your doctor is in the best position to assess the status of your hip replacement.

Wright Profemur Total Hip System

The Wright Profemur Total Hip System is similar to other metal-on-metal hip implant systems except that its design allows it to be adjusted for leg length, along with other patient benefits. Unfortunately, it also is known to cause metal poisoning in some patients. The failure rate of this system has been reported to be greater than that of the Depuy.

Failure reports include parts of the device snapping or breaking during normal activities of daily life. This can lead to debilitating injuries and require risky hip revision surgery to remove the defective hip implant and replace it.

Symptoms of a defective Wright Profemur Implant:

• Serious and constant pain
• Swelling
• Popping and Clicking
• Hip fracture
• Loosening of the implant
• Dislocation

About Hip Replacements

Hip replacement is one of the most common procedures in the United States and, until a recent sharp decline, all-metal implants accounted for nearly one-third of the estimated 250,000 replacements performed each year. According to one estimate, some 500,000 patients have received an all-metal replacement hip.

Many all-metal devices were allowed to be sold without testing in patients or a requirement that performance of these devices be monitored. These devices were allowed to skirt these rules under an FDA regulation that allows medical devices that are “substantially similar” to devices already on the market to forego certain testing requirements. This “pass through” has been criticized by a growing number of health experts and consumer groups as benefiting manufacturers at the expense of patient safety.

In an unusual intervention in May 2011, the FDA ordered hip implant manufacturers to study how frequently the devices were failing and to examine the threat to patients.

Legal Help for Victims of Defective Hip Implant Devices

If you or a loved one received a hip implant device and later suffered debilitating injuries, you may have valuable legal rights. Please fill out our online form, or call us toll-free at 1-877-My-Advocates (1-877-692-3862) to discuss your case with one of our medical device injury lawyers today.