In 2007, a San Diego man received a metal-on-metal hip replacement manufactured by DePuy. He chose this particular model because of its expected durability – the hip replacement was supposed to last approximately 30 years. After undergoing the procedure and a grueling six-month recovery, the man expected to lead a normal life with no need for additional hip surgery. He was wrong.
DePuy Hip Metal Poisoning Complications
Within three years, he experienced hip swelling and complications such as hair loss, skin rashes and brittle nails. Eventually, a DePuy Hip recall alerted him to the real problem: he was allegedly experiencing DePuy hip metal poisoning caused by the movement of his joint. Each time the joint moved, it shaved flakes of metal off of the hip replacement. These metal flakes damaged his muscles and caused joint inflammation.
DePuy Hip Lawyer Files Suit
This San Diego man is not the only one affected by possible DePuy hip metal poisoning. More than 90,000 people received this particular implant. An attorney representing several patients in a DePuy hip lawsuit contends that the company did not do enough research or act quickly when hip replacement recipients complained. The DePuy hip lawyer further explained that the metal-on-metal hip replacement was never tested in humans because of a Food and Drug Administration process that fast-tracks approval for implants similar to other approved implants.
FDA Demands Additional Data
On May 6, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration sent letters to the manufacturers of these hip replacement systems. The FDA ordered each manufacturer to conduct additional studies on hip replacements approved for marketing in the United States. The FDA explained that it needs more data to understand the complications associated with these systems. The agency also needs more information on metal ion concentrations in the systems.
Company Releases Statement on DePuy Hip Metal Poisoning
DePuy released a statement in response to the alleged complication of DePuy hip metal poisoning. The company is working with affected patients by covering medical costs directly related to the hip system recall. DePuy will also cover out-of-pocket expenses for lost wages, travel costs, co-pays and insurance deductibles.
Voluntary Recall Due to DePuy Hip Metal Poisoning Complaints
The company also reports voluntarily recalling the ASR hip system in 2010 after receiving new data from the UK National Joint Registry. The data showed that 12 percent of patients who received the ASR hip system had to undergo additional surgery within five years of the procedure. Thirteen percent of patients who received the ASR XL Acetabular system had to undergo additional surgery within five years.
