Amidst Reports of Safety Issues Involving Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants, Recipients of DuPuy Hip Implants are Urged to Contact the US Drug Watchdog Immediately

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The US Drug Watchdog, a consumer advocacy group created to help raise awareness of faulty medical devices and potentially dangerous pharmaceuticals, encourages all recipients of the DePuy Pinnacle hip implant to contact their toll-free number, 866-714-6466, as soon as possible to find out if they are entitled to financial compensation for faulty hip implants. This urging is based on the FDA's safety communications on metal-on-metal hip implants, which discuss the damage they may cause. http://USDrugWatchdog.Com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140513/87109
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140513/87110

The US Drug Watchdog says, "In 2010, a voluntary recall was issued for all DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip Systems and DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems. DePuy, a unit of Johnson and Johnson, issued the recall after abnormally high failure rates began occurring within just a few years. The implants, which Johnson and Johnson say were designed to last more than 15 years, were recalled based on data that estimated a failure rate of 13 percent, or 1 in 8 recipients.

However, the British Orthopedic Association and the British Hip Society puts those numbers much higher—according to data by a number of surgeons, approximately 21 percent of patients needed revisions after 4 years and as many as 49 percent needed revisions after six years. We are now very focused on the DePuy Pinnacle all metal hip implant, because both devices are very similar.

Based on these figures, the FDA created a page dedicated to informing people about the risks associated with metal-on-metal implants. Most of these risks are the result of friction created when the metal ball and metal cup come together, which occurs during walking, running, and other activity. As a result, metal particles are released into the blood and tissue. This can cause damage to the surrounding tissue and to the bone, causing the implant to detach from the bone or become unaligned. Additionally, the FDA has stated that the release of metal ions into the blood "may cause symptoms or illnesses elsewhere in the body (systemic reactions)." 

According to the FDA, the following symptoms could indicate the hip implant is not functioning properly:

• Hip/groin pain
• Noise coming from the implant
• Difficulty walking
• Swelling
• Numbness

The following patient types are more at-risk for developing serious problems from metal build-up in the tissue:

• Female patients
• Patients who have metal-on-metal hip implants on both sides of the hip
• Patients with kidney problems
• Patients who have suppressed immune systems
• Overweight patients
• Active patients who routinely participate in physical activity
• Patients with sensitivity to metal types, including cobalt, chromium, and nickel

Many patients may be experiencing tissue damage as a result of metal ions without even knowing it, as symptoms are often not present until after serious damage has occurred. For this reason, the US Drug Watchdog says, "It's crucial that anyone who has received a DePuy Pinnacle hip implant to contact us as soon as possible at 866-714-6466. We don't want anyone to be left with the high costs of hip revision surgery." http://USDrugWatchdog.Com 

An estimated 140,000 people have received DePuy Pinnacle hip implant and may be entitled to financial compensation. For more information, contact the US Drug Watchdog's toll-free number: 866-714-6466.

DePuy Pinnacle U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas MDL Number 2244

Sources:

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/MetalonMetalHipImplants/ucm241766.htm#4

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-09/j-j-hip-replacement-failure-rate-may-be-49-u-k-orthopedists-group-says.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/business/17hip.html?scp=1&sq=hip%20j&J&st=cse

Media Contact: M. Thomas Martin, 866-714-6466

SOURCE US Drug Watchdog