DePuy Hip Replacement Lawyer
DEPUY HIP REPLACEMENT AND RECALL CASES: LOS ANGELES & NATIONWIDE
Over the last decade, DePuy Orthopedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, has recalled a number of hip replacement implants due to defects. Failed implants cause pain to patients and often require additional surgeries for removal and replacement. DePuy’s most prominent recall involved the DePuy ASR implants, which are “metal-on-metal” (MoM) implants. MoM implants use chromium and/or cobalt metal for both the “ball” and the “socket.” After they were put into circulation, it was discovered that MoM implants can be extremely dangerous to patients. Before the devices could be recalled, an estimated 100,000 patients were fitted with the faulty implants.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a defective metal hip replacement device, the zealous medical device defect attorneys at Morris Law Firm are here to help. We will fight to get you the compensation you are owed for the harm you and your family have suffered.
What’s Wrong With DePuy Implants?
While many devices now rely on ceramic or plastic components, DePuy ASR implants use a “metal-on-metal” design. The metal ball of the implant interacts with a metal socket and metal shell. As the device is put to use over time, the metal-on-metal implant scrapes and corrodes, releasing cobalt and chromium into the bloodstream. The corrosion is made worse as the various parts grind together whenever the patient walks, bikes, or otherwise ambulates. Metal ion levels in the blood build over time, leading to high metal toxicity and metallosis of the blood.
Originally, metal implants were used because they were believed to be more durable than their ceramic counterparts. In the years after they were introduced, medical literature discovered that they had a much higher failure rate than believed. In fact, research found that DePuy’s implants were replaced or removed 29 percent of the time within just six years, while other all-metal implants had a failure rate of around 9.5 percent.
Moreover, subsequent investigations by journalists and litigants discovered that DePuy knew about the dangers and the high failure rates well before issuing a public recall. DePuy knew exactly how dangerous their product was for patients and yet kept it a secret in order to keep profits high and avoid liability. Now, their secret is out, and Morris Law Firm can help you hold them accountable for their actions.
The Dangers of Metallosis and Metal Poisoning
The buildup of metal ions in the blood can rot healthy tissue and muscle around the implant, causing it to degrade into a gray, dead mass. High levels of metal in the blood can lead to a variety of complications and dangerous, debilitating conditions, including the following:
- Inflammation and painful swelling around the implant
- Severe discomfort and pain
- Growth of pseudotumors
- Burning sensation
- Difficulty walking or otherwise moving the hip joint
- Skin rash and other skin sensitivity problems
- Cognitive problems caused by limitations to the blood flow
- Numbness
- Blood circulation issues
- Bone loss
If you have a DePuy implant and you have experienced any of these issues, or any other symptoms consistent with a faulty implant or blood poisoning, you need to get medical assistance as soon as possible. Call a dedicated hip defect injury lawyer for assistance recovering damages for the harm you have suffered.
Morris Law Firm is Ready to Investigate and Prosecute Your DePuy Hip Device Defect Claims
If you have suffered a personal injury or experienced adverse effects as a result of a DePuy metal-on-metal hip replacement or another faulty medical device, contact our attorneys to discuss your legal options. We serve clients nationwide and offer free consultations with no obligation. Morris Law Firm will fight on your behalf to see that justice is served.
