Defective Hip Replacement Complaints Reach Staggering Numbers

An article that appeared in the August 22 edition of the New York Times states the number of complaints received by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about defective hip replacement devices has reached over 5,000 since January, 2011. An analysis of data performed by the newspaper shows that this staggering number exceeds the total number of complaints received by the FDA in the past four years combined.

Metal-on-Metal Devices are the Culprit

The majority of the complaints cite metal-on-metal hip replacement devices manufactured by DePuy (ASR and Pinnacle models), Zimmer Holdings (Durom Cup model) and Wright Medical. The reports are filed by patients who have either already undergone revision surgery, or are about to undergo the procedure. The number of complaints puts these devices on track to become the most costly medical implant problem since the Medtronic heart device recall in 2007. 7,700 complaints prompted the removal of that device from the market, and the number of hip implant complaints is expected to keep rising.

Precise Count of Failed Implants Hard to Calculate

Currently, there is no national artificial joint registry in the United States, so it is difficult for researchers to determine just how many patients are struggling with a failing hip implant. There are an estimated 250,000 hip replacement surgeries performed in the U.S. every year, and according to the Times, one medical researcher estimates that there could be upwards of half a million people who were implanted with metal-on-metal devices that could prove troublesome way before they reach their estimated life-span of 15 years. Most of the complaints received claim failure approximately 3 years after implantation.

Chief Complaint is Tissue Damage

Patients complaining of pain, inflammation and other symptoms consistent with metallosis, or raised amounts of chromium and cobalt in the bloodstream due to the flaking off of  metal from the hip implant components, is what attracted attention to these particular implants. Doctors are flummoxed by the fact that not all patients who suffer the swelling of metal poisoning are experiencing pain. This makes it difficult to decide whether to remove the device and replace it with one that is not completely comprised of metal. In light of the deluge of complaints, however, the use of metal-on-metal hip replacement implants has dropped to about 5 percent of the market, with some doctors now refusing to use them at all. Protocols are currently being formulated that will be helpful in determining how best to treat patients suffering on account of their defective hip implants.

Contact Your Doctor Immediately If You Are Experiencing Symptoms Consistent with Failure

If you are experiencing pain, swelling, stiffness or difficulty performing everyday tasks, your hip replacement device may be failing. It is important to contact your physician immediately to assess the situation and to determine the best course of treatment.

Protect Your Rights as a Consumer

The Rottenstein Law Group’s hip replacement lawyers have over 25 years of experience advocating for clients in consumer products injury cases. If you feel you have been injured by a defective DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement, you may have grounds to file a hip replacement lawsuit and receive compensation. Just fill out our convenient contact form, and one of our lawyers will be in touch.