A manufacturing company has once again been charged with lawsuits because of defective metal-on-metal hip replacement. Last December 16, 2011, complainants filed a lawsuit with the US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) consolidating cases against Wright Medical Technology, Inc.
 
The New York Times published an article earlier on the dangers of metal-on-metal hip replacements. The article was entitled “Remedy Is Elusive as Metallic Hips Fail at Fast Rate.” It discusses about how the surgery leaves metal debris that harms the tissues in the hip region.

Those who received  hip replacements may suffer from implant failure, metallosis, tissue damage, bone loss and other hip replacement problems.
 
One doctor commented to the Times that “As surgeons here sliced through tissue surrounding a failed artificial hip in a 53-year-old man, they discovered what looked like a biological dead zone. There were matted strands of tissue stained gray and black; a large strip of muscle near the hip no longer contracted.”
 
 
DePuy Bound to Address Problems of Hip Replacements

Legal professionals say that several complainants have initiated court actions against Johnson & Johnson. They were the victims of DePuy hip implants failures and defects such as loosening, fractures, and displacements. Below are some symptoms of a defective hip device:
 
· Pain when rising from a seated position
· Pain on the thigh or groin area
· Pain bearing weight
· Pain on the hip area
· Pain while walking
· Swelling
 
In worse cases, complete failure of hip devices happen, resulting in more serious health problems. This happens when:
 
· the unit is dislocated and misaligned; 
· the bone around the implant is fractured; and
· the device is not attached to the bone correctly.
 
Moreover, defective hip devices may deposit tiny pieces of toxic metal into the patient’s bloodstream. The body tissues may possibly develop pseudotumors.
 

Delaying Hip Replacement Surgery Through Exercise

Released in April 2011, this study revealed that exercise can actually delay and even prevent hip replacement surgeries. The source of the study's fund is the Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation, the Norwegian Rheumatism Association, and the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority.

"If you exercise early" in the course of the disease, "maybe you can prevent surgery long-term," said researcher Dr. Linda Fernandes, a physiotherapist at Diakonhjemmet Hospital in Oslo.

Hence, if patients experience any doubts and concerns about their hip surgery, they should immediately consult a doctor on their health condition.

Similar to the earlier mentioned litigation against Wright Medical Technology, there have been several DePuy lawsuit pursued by the patients affected by metal-on-metal hip device. Other patients affected by the device should seek legal advice as regard probable compensation from DePuy Orthopaedics Inc.

References:
· bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-03/johnson-johnson-sued-over-recalled-implanted-hip-replacement-devices.html
· arthritistoday.org/news/asr-depuy-hip-replacement-recall078.php
· nursinghomesabuseblog.com/defective-products/defects-with-depuy-hip-replacement-hardware-may-be-responsible-for-complications-following-hip-surgury/
· clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01338532
· internalmedicinenews.com/news/rheumatology-immunology/single-article/rigorous-exercise-may-delay-hip-replacement/e680cecb64.html
· orthopedics.about.com/od/arthritis/p/exercise.htm

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