The free hip replacement recall report of the Hip Recall Help Team has been updated to include information about metal toxicity or metallosis. Abrasion of metal components typically after failure of interposed polyethylene-bearing surfaces such as the ones used in the DePuy hip replacement systems causes metallosis. A worldwide recall was announced by the DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson, last August of its hip replacement systems, the Articular Surface Replacement (ASR) XL Acetabular System and the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing Platform. After hiring the Broadspire Services to handle it,
DePuy is under fire again for outsourcing the recall.
Some patients implanted with the DePuy hip devices have reportedly been experiencing pain, swelling and difficulty walking. A blood test will be done by a doctor to determine whether or not they are suffering from metallosis. Patients suffering from metallosis will experience an elevated rate of cobalt and chromium in their blood stream as well as pseudo tumors and black tissue around the implant area.
One of the easily missed dangers of the recently recalled metal-on-metal hip replacement implants is metal toxicity, specifically involving Cobalt and Chromium, according to the Hip Recall Help Team. Major health problems could result from high levels of heavy metals, specifically cobalt and chromium, but they do not always lead to easily recognizable symptoms right away. And when symptoms appear, they are more non-specific and rarely announce themselves as being caused by the recalled hip implants which means that unless recipients of those implants have their blood levels regularly checked, they might find out that they have high levels only after the heavy metals have caused damage to their system.
It's extremely important that anyone who has received a metal-on-metal implant get their metal levels checked regularly, said the Hip Recall Help Team's spokesperson Robert M. Clarke, adding that Damage can occur long before patients become aware of any kind of symptoms. Clarke also pointed out that patients should also seek legal advice to be sure they get compensated for their pain, expense, and losses since the primary way to remedy the situation is additional surgery. Clarkes report stated that DePuy recalled the metal ASR hip system after it failed at a higher-than-expected rate.
This product has a five-year failure rate at approximately 13 percent as suggested by a study by the National Joint Registry (NJR) of England and Wales, or one in every eight patients receiving one of the hip implants, according to DePuys website. The recall prompted the filing of more than 2,000 lawsuits in U.S. state and federal courts and the number continues to rise with 700 lawsuits filed in the last two months alone. Since January this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received about 5,000 complaints involving hip replacement recall.
