The recent DePuy Orthapaedics Hip Implant recall should not come as any surprise to most people. Within the last several years, DePuy hip implants, employing a metal on metal function, were used in about 90,000 hip replacements performed in the United States.
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DePuy Orthopaedics Hip Implant Complications
DePuy hip implants mimic our traditional bone structure by creating a ball and socket joint out of metal; specifically, chromium and cobalt. DePuy Orthopaedics hip implant manufacturers believed the elements would be stronger and last longer than conventional hip implant materials.
The problems with the hip implants arise from friction in between the head at the top of the thigh bone and the cup which is placed into the hip socket. These two metals rub together and ultimately cause wear and tear on the materials. Friction on a car tire, results in rubber particles being slowly dispersed on our roadyways. Friction on a metal implant results in metal particles being dispersed inside a human body. These particles and metallic debris can cause signifcant damage to tissue and bone surrounding the hip joint.
Some of these particles even enter the blood stream and can become lodged in other parts of the body. Such patients will have high metal content in their blood streams which can be diagnosed using standard radiological studies that will show the metal dispersed throughout the body.
Unfortunately, orthopaedic surgeons using DePuy hip implants were not alerted of these complications until recently. In the meantime, it appears that nearly 95,000 of these defective hip implants could be in the population today.
NJ and PA DePuy Hip Implant Recall Attorneys
If you have a DePuy Orthopaedics hip implant, do not wait until you are experiencing signs or symptoms of metallic debris in your body. You should immediately consult with your family doctor and orthopaedic surgeon to get properly tested and continue to be tested for any problems associated with this defective implant.
If you wish to know your legal rights, please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.