Earl's View » surgery

Dr Steve speaks on MoM Hip problems and Hips in general

earlstevens58 — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 20:52:13 +0000

Dr Stephen Tower talks about hips and MoM problems

This is a one hour talk.

Consumer’s Union had Dr Steve talk last month at Columbia School of Journalism.

It covers a lot of ground not only about the metal-metal hips but about hip replacement in general.

I am in the process of watching it myself and so can’t give you a big review here – but please post your thoughts and comments below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xtivtrin8Q&feature=youtu.be

Lise’s story – another DePuy Victim

earlstevens58 — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 21:26:12 +0000

Lise’s Story – all too common

I came across this story recently – and a very useful website you might like to take a look at.

http://www.hiphelp.org/mystory.html

here’s a snippet from Lise

In March, 2008, I received a new right hip. It was supposed to be the latest, most innovative hip manufactured by DePuy, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson.

I did not know much about joints or hip replacements before this procedure other than they are what “old” people have or those who have over-exercised their joints. I knew I had congenital arthritis from a birth defect known as dysplasia which affects a certain percentage of the population.

I was a dancer, (not professionally, just a passion), former cheerleader, a mom, wife, professional person, business owner,runner, hiker, and gym rat. At about age 49, the arthritis was making itself known to me. Since I am a business owner and now consultant, my livelihood and that of my family depends upon my good health.

I was armed with internet research. I asked my doctor if my device had any recalls or complaints with the FDA. All indications were, this was one of the most successful surgeries in general.

The device, heavily recommend by my physician was a metal on metal hip or MoM implant. It would wear at least 20 years and it is what all baby boomers and professional athletes who needed new joints were receiving (according to my surgeon).

The surgery, if you have ever seen on YouTube, is pretty brutal. They use tools that reside in your garage; hacksaw, drill, hammer and chisels. They dislocated the hip, saw off the head of the joint, ream out the hip socket, drill out the bone marrow in your thigh and tap in a 7 inch (est.) long metal “stake” in your thigh. They put a ball on the end, (metal, ceramic or combination of both), and then put a cup made of metal or plastic in the socket as you would have a ball rolling about in a bowl. They have different size cups and balls for every size but much depends on the skill of the surgeon. You can come out with a limp and face future dislocations, have one leg shorter than the other, or the best and most widely touted case is you will fare better off than you were before and be pain free!

The surgery went as expected. I went home after two days but had significant back pain – unusual for me since I never had any back issues prior to the surgery. I just assumed it was the result of a bad hospital bed.

The Onder Law Firm Clarifies What the DePuy Hip Recall Lawsuit Settlement Means to Those Who Did Not File (prweb.com)
US Drug Watchdog Now Urges Recipients Of The Recalled DePuy ASR Hip Implant To Call Them About A Just Announced Settlement If They Are Not Yet Represented By Counsel (prweb.com)
Johnson & Johnson agrees to pay $2.5 billion to resolve thousands of hip replacement lawsuits (canadianbusiness.com)
Johnson & Johnson DePuy hip implant settlement reported (lawprofessors.typepad.com)
J&J to pay $2.5B to settle hip replacement suits (abqjournal.com)
Meyers & Flowers Announce $2. … (biomedreports.com)
J&J Said to Reach $4 Billion Deal to Settle Hip Lawsuits (bloomberg.com)
DePuy ASR Lawsuit News: Wright & Schulte LLC Files Hip Implant Lawsuit on Behalf of Man Who Purportedly Developed Hip Replacement Complications Due to ASR Hip Implant (prweb.com)
DePuy ASR Settlement Update: Rottenstein Law Group LLP Comments on $4 Billion DePuy Hip Settlement News (businesslawdaily.net)
J&J to settle hip-replacement suits for $2.5B (thedailyrecord.com)

Consumer Reports Urges a Lemon Law For Joint Replacements

earlstevens58 — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 21:30:03 +0000

Consumer Reports Urges a Lemon Law For Joint Replacements

by Christy Rakoczy, a J.D.

Manufacturers of hip and knee replacement products made many promises to consumers. This is especially true of DePuy Orthopaedics, Stryker, Zimmer and other manufacturers of the new generation of joint replacement products largely marketed as medical devices that would last longer and provide more flexibility than traditional joint replacement solutions.

Unfortunately, the marketing for many of the new hip replacement products may have turned out to be a lot of hype. In fact, many of the hip replacement products that came on the market in recent years not only fail to last longer but actually appear to have higher failure rates and may cause serious complications for many patients. The extensive problems that patients allege they’ve experienced has even caused Consumer Reports to call for a “lemon law,” on replacement joints.

Consumer Reports Calls for a Warranty On Artificial Hips and Knees

Consumers Union, the policy arm of Consumer Reports, argues that medical device manufacturers should give consumers a warranty on hip and knee replacement products, promising to replace the medical devices at no costs. This suggestion comes at a time when as many as 20 percent of all hip replacement procedures and 10 percent of all knee replacement procedures each year are revision surgeries that are necessary because of problems with the implanted artificial joint.

Consumer Reports believes a warranty would both be fairer to patients who need to undergo repeated surgeries and would prompt medical device manufacturers to make sure their products are safer and more durable.

While this idea has merit as a method of protecting customers, unfortunately a warranty may not be enough. Those whose artificial joints fail often experience significant pain and serious medical complications. A no-cost revision surgery wouldn’t compensate the victims of defective medical devices for these other losses, but a product liability claim can and does allow patients to take action for defective hip and knee replacement devices.

Patients Have Rights When Hip and Knee Products are Defective

A large part of the reason revision surgeries have become so common in recent years is that many of the newer hip replacement products are metal-on-metal devices that were brought to the market under a special FDA rule.

The FDA’s 501(K) clearance rules allow manufacturers to produce and sell medical devices with a fast-tracked approval process and minimal testing provided there are substantially similar devices on the market already. Unfortunately, many of the devices brought to market under these rules have now been recalled when it turned out the products weren’t so safe after all.

DePuy Orthopaedics, for example, instituted a voluntary recall of its ASR™ Hip System after data from a UK joint replacement registry indicated a higher-than-average failure rate. The Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular-Neck Hip Systems were also recalled because of high failure rates.

The FDA continues to review the safety and efficacy record of metal on metal hip implants. The agency continues to receive adverse event reports with regard to the devices. Commonly alleged problems include:

Aseptic loosening
Infection
Bone loss
Metallosis (a/k/a “metal poisoning”)
The formation of pseudo tumors
Decreased range of motion and limited mobility
Pain

Patients who experience these complications deserve to have the manufacturer of their defective device pay for revision surgery. This is not all they deserve, though, and a warranty allowing for a no-cost revision procedure doesn’t go far enough. Victims whose lives are affected by defective medical products should also be compensated for time missed from work; for pain and suffering; for emotional distress and for any reduction they experience in their quality of life.

Bio:

Christy Rakoczy, a J.D. from the University of California, is a legal writer and advocate for consumer rights and patient safety. You can read more of her work on the Stryker hip implants, including recall information, complications, and ongoing legal action, at strykerhiprecall.co.

CIHI Study Reveals Problems with Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants (earlsview.com)

Filed under: Cobalt chrome, Cobalt Poisoning, Cobaltism, DePuy ASR Hip, DePuy Hip Litigation, Hip Replacement, Hip Revisions, Johnson & Johnson, Metal on metal hip, Stryker, Stryker ABGII Modular Femoral Stem, Stryker Hip Implant Recall, Stryker profits, Stryker rejuvenate hip, Stryker ShapeMatch, Stryker Trident Hip Recall, Stryker Trident Hip Replacement System, Suffering, Total Hip Replacement Tagged: Consumer Reports, DePuy, Hip Replacement, hip replacement products, India, joint replacement, knee replacement, Medical device, metallosis, Stryker Hip Replacements, surgery, University of California

CIHI Study Reveals Problems with Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants

earlstevens58 — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 21:38:46 +0000

CIHI Study Reveals Problems with Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants

On July 18, 2013, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) released the results of a study aimed at examining the longevity of artificial hip implants. Researchers studied outcomes of more than 59,000 hip replacement surgeries performed in Canada between 2003 and 2011. Data was included from all the Canadian provinces, with the exception of Quebec.

Researchers found that patients who were implanted with a large-diameter modular metal-on-metal hip implant device had a 5.9% chance of needing revision surgery within five years after the original procedure. Patients who received other types of hip implant devices had a 2.7% chance of requiring revision surgery during that same time frame.

Cost of revision hip replacement surgery

According to researchers, cost and recovery time for revision surgery is much higher and much longer than patients’ original hip replacement surgery. CIHI says that patients having revision surgery remain in the hospital 17% longer and pay 45% more than they did during their initial hospitalization and rehabilitation.

Who gets metal-on-metal hip implants?

The majority of patients receiving metal-on-metal hip implants were men under the age of 55. Similar numbers have been found in studies conducted in Australia and the U.K. The metal-on-metal implants were originally marketed to this patient demographic, since they were highly touted for their increased mobility and durability.

“Metal-on-metal hip replacement implants were generally considered to be the most suitable implants for younger, more active patients who were traditionally at higher risk of repeat surgery due to the wear and tear they place on the implant,” Dr. Eric Bohm, orthopedic surgeon from the Concordia Hip and Knee Institute, was quoted as saying in the Canadian Institute of Health report.

Unfortunately, the choice to go with a metal-on-metal hip implant did not prove beneficial for some of those patients, as complications with the implants resulted in pain, reduced mobility and the need for subsequent surgery. In addition, CBC/Radio-Canada recently reported that some patients receiving these implants suffered tissue damage around the joint, after metal particles entered surrounding tissue and the bloodstream.

Legal trouble for makers of hip devices

In 2010, Johnson & Johnson issued a worldwide recall of its iconic metal-on-metal stars, DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Resurfacing System. A few short months after the recall was issued, the first class action lawsuit involving DePuy devices was filed in Quebec Superior Court.

Complaints about the devices include misalignment, loosening of the joint, dislocation, fracture, and metal debris around the joint. Plaintiffs have claimed that DePuy was aware of the potential problems with their devices, but refused to pull the devices from the market before patients were injured by the implants.

It is estimated that as many as 4,000 DePuy ASR hip implants have been used in Canadian patients. Over 37,000 of the devices were implanted in patients in the United States where the device manufacturer is also facing widespread and growing litigation.

Devices remain in wide use

Researchers in this recent study primarily focused on the large-diameter modular device. These devices feature a metal ball that fits inside a larger-than-normal metal socket. The purpose of the design was to improve mobility in younger, more active patients. Unfortunately, some surgeons have found the design is also more sensitive to malposition, which can increase the risk of metal particles rubbing off the device and entering the bloodstream.

The use of metal-on-metal hip implants appeared to peak between 2007 and 2008, but has been gradually decreasing since that time. Researchers in this study found the metal-on-metal devices only represented around 10% of the total number of devices examined. Metal-on-plastic devices were used in nearly three-fourths of the surgeries studied, and continue to be a popular choice for surgeons and patients today with seemingly fewer complications.

Bio:

Lance Andrews writes for Injury Lawyer News, where he reports on the effects of dangerous drugs and medical devices as well as recalled products. He is committed raising awareness about these issues to protect patient safety and consumer rights. His unique point of view comes from a combined education in journalism and medical studies.

Hire a Hip Implant Lawyer for Getting a Better Advice! (defectivekneeimplant.wordpress.com)
DePuy Hip Replacement (csengerilaw.wordpress.com)
Shouldn’t Hip & Knee Replacements Come With Warranties? (consumerist.com)
Victims of Faulty DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implants Seek Compensation for Injuries (pinnaclelawsuit.typepad.com)
America – the land of the brave and “ripped off”… (earlsview.com)
Judge Agrees to Exclude 2010 Recall From a DePuy ASR Federal Trial (depuyasrnewsandupdates.wordpress.com)
J&J Said to Weigh $3 Billion Settlement of Its Hip Implant Cases (bloomberg.com)
Hip Implant Complaints Increased Largely (depuyrecall.typepad.com)
In Wake of Stryker Lawsuits, FDA Advises Caution Over All Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Implants (pastry07mile.wordpress.com)
California Man Has Elevated Cobalt Levels and Possible Need for Revision Surgery After His Biomet Hip Implant Failed, Alleges Lawsuit Filed by Parker Waichman LLP (virtual-strategy.com)

Filed under: Cobalt chrome, Cobalt Poisoning, DePuy ASR Hip, Hip Replacement, Hip Revisions, Johnson & Johnson, Metal on metal hip, Total Hip Replacement Tagged: Canadian Institute for Health Information, DePuy, Hip Replacement, Johnson, Quebec, Quebec Superior Court, surgery, UNited States

Data show hip replacement revision rate low, though higher with metal-on-metal – Winnipeg Free Press

earlstevens58 — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 22:01:33 +0000

Data show hip replacement revision rate low, though higher with metal-on-metal – Winnipeg Free Press.

Data show hip replacement revision rate low, though higher with metal-on-metal

By: Helen Branswell, The Canadian Press

Posted: 07/18/2013 2:51 PM |

TORONTO – New Canadian data suggest that people who have a type of metal-on-metal hip replacement are more likely to need a revision within five years, but even then, the rate of revisions is low.

The data show that people who had large-diameter modular metal-on-metal implants had a 5.9 per cent chance of needing to have the implant replaced within five years, compared to a rate of 2.7 per cent among people who received the more common metal-on-plastic implant.

The data, released by the Canadian Institutes for Health Information, show that nearly three out of every four hip replacements logged into the Canadian joint replacement registry were metal-on-plastic units.

Metal-on-metal hip replacements made up only nine per cent of the procedures recorded in the registry.

Metal-on-metal units were introduced with great optimism a few years ago; the thinking was the replacement hips would be more durable and better for younger patients than the metal-on-plastic type.

But data from a number of countries have shown that hasn’t been the case for a small subset of people who received the units.

Canadian orthopedic surgeons took a more conservative approach to the metal-on-metal implants and it turned out to be the way to go, says Dr. Michael Dunbar, an orthopedic surgeon from Halifax and co-chair of the joint replacement registry.

“It was the right side of the street to be on, for sure,” Dunbar says.

“It was the fact of the matter that in the United States in the late 2000s almost 45 per cent of every male in the country (who got a hip replacement) got metal-on-metal. So this is why it’s such a big issue in the United States.”

Dunbar says the differences between the U.S. and Canadian situations underscore why it’s important to gather information on joint replacements. Currently the joint replacement registry is a voluntary one, and only captures a portion of the procedures done in the country.

Two provinces — British Columbia and Ontario — are moving to make it mandatory for these procedures to be recorded in the registry. But Dunbar wishes others would follow suit.

“We have a voluntary system and until recently we’ve been down around 50 per cent. We think that all implants should be registered because this is important. We’re spending the nation’s treasure on this stuff. This is a top health-care priority in Canada,” Dunbar says.

“We want to make sure we can deliver the very best product to the patients in our country. And we want to make sure that the money that we’re spending … is best spent for the most appropriate implant for the most appropriate patient.”

The report is based on nearly 60,000 hip replacements done across Canada between 2003 and 2011. Data from Quebec were not included.

Data show hip replacement revision rate low, though higher with metal-on-metal (globalnews.ca)
Metal on Metal Long Term Risks Confirmed (earlsview.com)
Products Included in the Ceramic Hip Replacement Recall (arthritis.answers.com)
Risks, Benefits and Recovery From Birmingham Hip Procedures (arthritis.answers.com)
Metal-on-metal hip implants more likely to need replacement (cbc.ca)
Risks and Rewards of Cemented Hip Replacements (arthritis.answers.com)
Hip Resurfacing an Alternative to Hip Replacement (hothealthnews.wordpress.com)
Understanding Hip Revision Surgery: A Medical Overview (orthopedics.answers.com)

Filed under: Cobalt chrome, Cobalt Poisoning, Cobaltism, Hip Replacement, Hip Revisions, Metal on metal hip, Total Hip Replacement Tagged: arthritis, Business, Cobalt chrome, Cobalt poisoning, DePuy, Health, hip, Hip Replacement, hip resurfacing, joint replacement, Medicine, science, Smith & Nephew, surgery, Technology, UNited States, Winnipeg Free Press

Hanna’s Story – another Smith & Nephew BHR tale of disaster

earlstevens58 — Sat, 04 May 2013 01:12:42 +0000

My name is Hanna Viner, I am 61 years old and I live in Sydney, Australia. I had recently a left hip revision surgery from MoM BHR to ceramic THR. After subscribing to your blog and reading your very interesting articles and stories I have decided to share my experience with you. I have bilateral artificial hips. Left is ceramic THR, MoM BHR on the right side.

In October 2000 I had my first right hip MoM BHR put in due to severe osteoarthritis and 3 months after had developed a limp in the left leg and pain in the left hip. My surgeon, who was trained in BHR 6 months before my first operation, had gone to Birmingham to learn how to use Derek McMinn‘s BHR prosthesis and I was one of the first patient to receive this BHR prosthesis in Australia. Anyhow this operation was successful and help me enormously with the pain, which I had suffered for at least 3 years, I was 48 years old when I had my first operation.

Two years later in September 2002 I went and had left hip BHR inserted and this operation was not as successful as the first one. My surgeon has told me that the damage in the left acetabulum and femur head was not as great as in the right one therefore they have to insert a bigger socket and force it into the acetabulum, I think they maybe did not have the right size of the socket for damage I had there. The future CT Scan had showed an old healed fracture in my pelvis next to the left prosthesis. Anyhow i was happy to have the new hip resurfacing in and did not pay much attention to the details then.

From the beginning the left prosthesis was squeaking and made all sorts of noises while I was moving or bending, but I had a little pain and considered that ok. When I attended numerous check up visits with my surgeon I have told him about the problems but he dismissed them as normal. Over the years the noises and occasional pain were more disturbing and in 2007 my X-ray showed the lucency next to the left BHR, which again my doctor has dismissed and said that there is nothing to worry about.

So life was going on and I started having gait problem and developed excessive pronation in my feet, more severe on the left foot. I also developed bunions on both feet and I had to do something because due mainly to left foot drop I was falling while walking even on leveled ground and my feet were killing me, being very painful while walking or standing for prolonged periods.

After numerous fallings I have researched the cause for it and decided to go and see podiatrist, which of course diagnosed me with severe pronation of my feet, especially the left one. I was given orthotics and felt better immediately. I also stared to notice that the left leg was kind of weaker than the right one, but I did not pay too much attention and was living my life as normal.

Mean while this leg problems had affected my thoracic skoliosis and my shoulders were very uneven, more than ever before, the right one was now much lower than the left one. So I started paying attention to my posture. I work in the office and had to be aware the way I was sitting and using computer. My right knee developed Bakers cyst and was and is quite painful especially when I walk up the hill or up and down the stairs.

I also started being very fatigued and developed some chronic aches and pains all over my body, I had digestive problems, loss of vision especially at night and could not hear so well with my left ear. I also have done a comprehensive stool analysis test learning from it that i had some bacterias, amoebas and parasites, my immune system was already compromised and i did not know why. I was a healthy eater, non smoker and non drinker, I use to do lots of sport activities and i was very miserable, irritable and unhappy, thinking that all of this is due to menopause.

In 2009 I had an Idiopathic hemorrage in the back of my left eye,which disappeared after 4 months. My blood pressure was playing up, hot flushes and night sweets were there even I had finished menopause few years before (by the way that period of my life was a miserable one too) and I felt overall very sick. I started Chinese herbs and acupuncture treatment which somehow helped because it made my body stronger but many of my symptoms had never disappear.

Than in June 2012 I went to see my orthopedic surgeon for a check up, which was 5.5 years overdue, i should attend this check up 4 years after my las check up, it was 1.5 years overdue due to some family commitments in Poland, had to look after my elderly mother for 15 months there.

In winter 2011 in Poland I already realize that my left leg is getting weaker and weaker as I was not able to do long walks on the snow the way I was able to do it in winter 2010, but did not worry too much about it blaming the old age, I also developed thyroid problems, my TSH was climbing up and overall I looked terrible, I was swollen especially my face at the chin and neck and my hands and feet and started putting lots of weight.

When I came back to Australia I went and had all necessary blood tests including thyroid tests and tests showed a Hashimoto disease, all thyroid tests were at the normal range, but my thyroid antibodies were elevated to 208IU/mL and my cholesterol was slightly elevated and some of the liver functions as ALT GGT and ALP were elevated. This started to worry me a bit. I did hip X-rays and went for a check up. I have already read the description written by radiologist, which showed that I have some overgrowth on the femur near the left prosthesis. I had showed that o my surgeon and he decided that we need to investigate this further, he had send me for a CT scan and a nuclear bone scan and I had also requested the metal ions blood test.

We did all of that and, o boy, I had a big pseudo tumor next to my left hip, bone and surrounding tissues eaten away by metal debris and metal ions in thousands in my blood, I had no option but to have surgery ASAP so we have scheduled this surgery for hip revision for 25 October 2012. I was speechless and angry and I had no option but to go for this operation.

The operation was successfull but it was done at the lasy moment as the damage to my bone and surrounded tissue was so extensive that if I would left it unattended for a bit longer I wouldn’t have any hip left there.

My surgeon had to remove about a litter of fluid with metal debris and repair all surrounded tissue damage. I was given THR made out of ceramic with ceramic liner to last longer and with titanium stem, also he did a bone graft from my own bone scraps from the femur onto acetabulum and fix the socket there with 2 titanium screws. I was doing pretty ok after the op and after 5 days in hospital I went to rehab hospital for 2 weeks for further rehabilitation ( isometric exercises in the morning and hydrotherapy in the afternoon), this was a great help. When I got back home I have continued hydrotherapy every day of the week and it felt great. It has been over 5 months now after the operation, I do continue hydrotherapy attending sessions at least twice a week.

I went back to work 2.5 months after the operation and I am taking systemic enzymes which are helping enormously with my scar tissue and swelling, they are great, I also detox with chlorella and am taking lots of supplements to keep me going, but I am still tired and the left leg is not fully healed yet, still getting a bit painful if I will overuse it. But the range of movement is great.

I have been back to see my surgeon with new xrays on 8/3/2013, the bone has healed terrifically well and my metal ions are substantially down: chromium from 1200 nmol/l to 574 nmol/l and cobalt from 1860 to 68, still high but much, much better. During this check up I have requested a removal of my right BHR prosthesis and my surgeon was surprised by my decision asking me – why do you want to remove a perfectly good device, I had answered that this is a ticking bomb an it could be blowing up at any rime, he answered yes potentially it can. We had scheduled another revision surgery for 26/6/13. Since then I had enough time to think about it and considering the fact that my left leg is still quite weak I have realized that I may not be well enough to perform the second revision so soon, besides my lower back is playing up since the last operation which is quite normal. I have requested an MRI scan for hips and lower back and measurement of metal ions in blood every three months and if all will be good and metal ions will gradually come down (I know it is a long process, sometimes up to 2 years) than I won’t rush to have another revision surgery. So this is my story.

Dear Earl, what do you think about my decision, do you think I have to do some other checking ups in regards to my problem. I will be glad to sue Smith and Nephew for producing such a horrible device, I have made enquiries in Australia and in one law firm in America but they refused to help me because there is not class action against S&N. So I will wait until many people will come forward and do the same as I want to do. If you know about any possible law suit against Smith and Nephew please let me know.

Looking forward to hear from you soon

Kind regards

Hanna Viner

Hip Resurfacing Procedures: A Viable Alternative to Hip Replacements (orthopedics.answers.com)
Study: Metal Hip Pain and Tissue Damage – Stryker Rejuvenate Hip Implant (earlsview.com)
Walking Better: Rehab After Hip Joint Prosthesis Surgery (orthopedics.answers.com)
Hip Hip Hooray! – Austin, TX (travelpod.com)
Surgeon Says Recalled Stryker Metal Hip Implant May Fail Half the Time (earlsview.com)
Mike’s Stryker problems ruin his life (earlsview.com)
Introducing Hip Resurfacing: A Minimally-Invasive Alternative to Hip Replacements (prweb.com)
Am I Too Old? Too Young for a Hip Replacement? (stpaulhip.wordpress.com)

Filed under: Cobalt chrome, Cobalt Poisoning, Cobaltism, Hip Replacement, Hip Revisions, Metal on metal hip, Total Hip Replacement Tagged: Acetabulum, artificial hips, Australia, BHR, Derek McMinn, Health, hip, Hip Replacement, hip resurfacing, hip revision, Medicine, metal, surgery, Sydney

Andrew Robathan: Defence minister to sue over ‘toxic’ hip implants that left him with a tumour | Mail Online

earlstevens58 — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 23:03:01 +0000

Andrew Robathan: Defence minister to sue over ‘toxic’ hip implants that left him with a tumour | Mail Online.

Defence minister to sue over ‘toxic’ hip implants that left him with a tumour

Andrew Robathan was fitted with ‘metal on metal’ implants in 2006
Developed non-cancerous tumour in the top of his leg
More than 10,000 people in UK were fitted with the implants

PUBLISHED: 08:49 GMT, 4 April 2013 | UPDATED: 13:55 GMT, 4 April 2013

Action: Armed Forces Minister Andrew Robathan is suing the firm which made metal hip implants that he claims caused a tumour in his leg

Armed Forces Minister Andrew Robathan is to sue a firm that made a ‘toxic’ hip implant which left him with a tumour in his leg.

Mr Robathan, has been left in constant pain and has difficulty even standing for long periods of time after he was fitted with the ‘metal-on-metal’ implant – which tests have showed can become warn down and poison the bloodstream.

The former SAS officer, who served during the first Gulf War, is among tens of thousands of people to receive the implants, which were the subject of a health warning after it was found that tiny metal fragments could break off of them over time.

Mr Robathan had an operation to resurface both of his hips seven years ago, when doctors inserted the ASR Hip System implant which is manufactured by DePuy, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

He developed a non-cancerous tumour at the top of his leg, and was told by his doctor that it was linked to the implants, the Telegraph reports.

The devices, which have been fitted to around 10,000 British patients, had already been recalled following safety fears by then.

Health watchdogs in 2012 said that those who had been fitted with them should undergo annual medical checks. DePuy had recalled its implants two years previously.

Mr Robathan, 61 – who has been told he will have to have a double hip replacement, said that although the implants he was fitted with have been recalled, it is ‘more tricky’ to simply recall something that is ‘stuck inside you.’

‘At first I was resigned to the fact that something had just gone wrong,’ he told the Telegraph, ‘but I went from being resigned about the situation to being absolutely angry.

Warning: More than 10,000 people in the UK were fitted with the metal-on-metal hip implants (stock picture)

‘I am in contact with lawyers with a view to taking legal action,’ he said.

A DePuy spokesman said the firm regrets the ASR Hip System did not perform as expected for some patients and that it is committed to addressing medical costs directly associated with the recall, the Telegraph reports.

In October 2012 Mr Robathan, who is married with two children, was told to calm down by the deputy speaker after complaining about noise levels from the public gallery in the House of Commons.

US Drug Watchdog Now Urges All Metal Hip Implant Recipients Who Have Had Revision Surgeries To Call Them For The Names of Attorneys To Help Them Get Compensated (prweb.com)
Signs Your Hip Implants Are Hurting You (earlsview.com)
Common Problems Associated With Titanium Hip Replacements (orthopedics.answers.com)
US Drug Watchdog Now Urges All DePuy ASR And Pinnacle All Metal Hip Implant Recipients To Get A Blood Test And To Call Them Before The Time Runs Out To Get Identified (prweb.com)
DePuy ASR Hip Recipient Feared for His Life before Revision Surgery (earlsview.com)
Smith & Nephew Failure Warning for Birmingham Hip Implant (earlsview.com)
DePuy Defective Hip Implant Claims | eLocal (elocallawyers.com)
Metal on Metal Hips – New Video – Lampkin & Co Solicitors (earlsview.com)
J&J metal hip failed because of toxic debris -expert at trial | Reuters (earlsview.com)

Metal on Metal Hips – New Video • Lampkin & Co Solicitors

earlstevens58 — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:24:13 +0000

Metal on Metal Hips – New Video • Lampkin & Co Solicitors.

Metal on Metal Hips – New Video

Posted by Lampkins Admin on Mar 5, 2013

Metal on Metal Hips – Understanding the Problems

We have released a new information video to help people understand the problems associated with the failure of their Metal on Metal Hip implants.

Watch our information video

In this video, we use animated graphics to illustrate what happens inside the body when the Metal on Metal Hip implant begins to fail. We’ve aimed at making it easy to understand and Mark Lampkin talks about the problems and how they can cause various issues throughout the body without any unnecessary medical or legal language.

Lampkin & Co Solicitors are leading the way on legal action in the UK regarding Metal on Metal Hip products that are failing and we are now representing a cohort of over 100 clients.

Many of our clients had heard about problems with Metal on Metal Hip Replacements but were not sure exactly what was happening. It’s estimated there could be around 50,000 people affected in the UK so we are quite sure there will be thousands more patients in the UK that don’t fully understand the problems and thus, the potential harm to their health.

If you’ve had or know someone that has had a Metal on Metal Hip procedure after 2004, contact us for advice. You can download our fact sheet on our Metal on Metal Hip page.

Please help spread the word so other sufferers can be helped – feel free to share this page via email, Facebook or Twitter.

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High Failure Rate For Metal-On-Metal Hip Implants
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Inportant information about legal action on metal hip – originally posted – implantsinfo@metalhipproblems.co.uk (earlsview.com)
Smith & Nephew Hip Implant Patient Diagnosed with Metallosis (earlsview.com)
FDA cracks down on all-metal hip replacements (earlsview.com)
Metal-on-metal hip implant risks ‘unique’ – Health – CBC News (earlsview.com)
Safety Communications FDA Safety Communication: Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants (earlsview.com)
US Drug Watchdog Now Urges All DePuy ASR And Pinnacle All Metal Hip Implant Recipients To Get A Blood Test And To Call Them Before The Time Runs Out To Get Identified (prweb.com)
DePuy ASR Trial – Closing Arguments – Trial plaintiff says J&J hips defective, company says not liable (earlsview.com)
US Drug Watchdog Now Urges All Metal Hip Implant Recipients Who Have Had Revision Surgeries To Call Them For The Names of Attorneys To Help Them Get Compensated (prweb.com)
Smith & Nephew Failure Warning for Birmingham Hip Implant (earlsview.com)
J&J gambled on hip implant safety, lawyer alleges – latimes.com (earlsview.com)

Filed under: Cobalt chrome, Cobalt Poisoning, Cobaltism, Hip Replacement, Hip Revisions, Metal on metal hip, Total Hip Replacement Tagged: Cobalt chrome, Cobalt poisoning, DePuy, DePuy ASR Hip, DePuy Hip Recall Litigation, DePuy Lawsuit, DePuy Orthopaedics, Food & Drug Administration, hip, Hip Replacement, Johnson, Medicine, metal, Metal on metal hip, metal-on-metal hips, metallosis, NephewSmith, Smith & Nephew, surgery, UNited States

Smith & Nephew Hip Implant Patient Diagnosed with Metallosis

earlstevens58 — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:44:48 +0000

Smith & Nephew Hip Implant Patient Diagnosed with Metallosis.

Smith & Nephew Hip Implant Patient Diagnosed with Metallosis

March 3, 2013, 08:00:00AM. By Jane Mundy

Ramona, CA: Increasingly, more people are experiencing hip and knee replacement failure and undergoing revision surgery. Karen was given a metal-on-metal hip replacement and has recently been diagnosed with metallosis. “I had to get hip revision surgery and my kidneys are finally filtering out the heavy metals,” she says, exasperated.

Metallosis isn’t Karen’s only concern. She is also worried that the statute of limitations is running out – her first hip replacement was done in 2008; she had problems right from the get-go and they got worse.

“First of all it’s a pretty scary operation,” Karen says. “If you have ever bought a chicken and disjointed the leg from the breast you will know exactly how the surgeons bend you in half and pop the hip joint out of its socket.” Just eight weeks after she had that surgery Karen had her other hip done – she was only 60 years old.

“I got up the next day (after the second surgery) and discovered that my right leg was one inch longer than my left leg,” Karen explains. “They suggested that I wear orthotics – what a joke! Ten days later they pulled the staples, went back in and made my leg an inch shorter. Now I am about level. The right hip doesn’t have metal-on-metal everything; it has a plastic spacer. Why didn’t my first (left hip) replacement have the plastic spacer? Now my left hip is causing all the problems but the wear is uneven and my new surgeon is closely monitoring this issue.

“It wasn’t until the summer of 2011 that I researched metal-on-metal hips. About that time the DePuy recall hit the fan. I was never told that I had a metal-on-metal hip. I phoned my surgeon’s office and asked one of his staff if I had a DePuy hip. She said, ‘Don’t worry, you have a Smith & Nephew hip.’ My relief was temporary…”

(In June 2012 Reuters reported that Smith & Nephew recalled its metal hip replacement component due to a high incidence of complications associated with the device. At issue was the metal liner, which was marketed in 2007 – one year before Karen had her hip replacement. An estimated 7,700 individuals have been affected by the Smith & Nephew hip recall. According to the company, the majority of the recalled metal liners were used in stemmed total hip replacements.)

“Finally the pain got so bad that I found a new doctor,” Karen adds. “He took a lot of x-rays and ordered lab tests – I was diagnosed with heavy metal poisoning. The x-rays revealed the hip parts with no spacer and noted that the metal cup had slipped and was rubbing against a leg tendon with every step I took. That was the killer.”

Karen’s lab results showed dangerously high elevated levels of chromium and cobalt that are released into the blood as the metal components rubbed against each other. She was also diagnosed with stage 3 kidney failure, a direct result of metallosis. Her doctor recommended immediate revision surgery to get rid of metal components. Needless to say, she was shocked.

“In November 2011, two surgeons performed the surgery because they knew beforehand it was going to be difficult,” Karen says. “They removed the Smith & Nephew ball and cup, added the plastic spacer and secured the cup with a screw to my hip bone so it won’t slide. I still have a lot of soft tissue damage in both hips. To this day I can’t lie on my side, I have to sleep propped up and I have constant pain on bending my hips.

“I guess my kidneys are healing themselves but I can’t help but think if I had a better surgeon (than the first one) I wouldn’t be addicted to painkillers. Every time I complained and cried, he just kept giving me more Vicodin: Now I am totally hooked: I take six pills a day for pain and there is nothing more the surgeon can do, nothing can alleviate my problems. I am stuck with this.”

Back in 2008, Karen began to develop severe pain upon walking and it kept getting worse. She was very athletic and chalked it up to overuse. She found her original surgeon from an article in the San Diego newspaper “bragging” about how he did a hip replacement on a female firefighter and she was back on the job in six weeks. She contacted the woman who raved about this surgeon. What better recommendation could you get?

“I didn’t feel my age in 2008 but I sure do now,” she adds. “I found out that a lot of people in the US have Smith & Nephew parts. How do these medical device companies think their product is any different than, say, DePuy? I think the hammer is inevitably going to fall on all of them.

“I recently asked my new surgeon about all the pain in my hips and he just shrugged. I see a pain management specialist next week – I might have to go through a full drug withdrawal program; the more you take, the more you build up to the point that it can cause liver damage. Vicodan does nothing but dull the pain; it does not make me happy. It has just become a vicious cycle.

“I hate taking pills and now I am at my wits end, and I have spent tons of money with these revision surgeries. I just hope that a hip replacement lawsuit will get me some compensation.” Karen adds that she has kept all her surgery reports, all lab tests and she has the removed metal components from her first left hip surgery to serve as evidence.

Filed under: Birmingham Hip Resurfacing, Cobalt chrome, Cobalt Poisoning, Cobaltism, Hip Replacement, Hip Revisions, Metal on metal hip, Smith & Nephew, Smith & Nephew BHR Problems, Smith & Nephew Hip Recall, Smith & Nephew R3 Hip Liner Recall, Total Hip Replacement Tagged: arthritis, Cobalt chrome, Cobalt poisoning, DePuy, Health, hip, hip implant, Hip Replacement, hip revision, implant patient, Medicine, metal-on-metal hips, metallosis, NephewSmith, ramona ca, San Diego, Smith, Smith & Nephew, surgery

Oh Really … Why am I not believing you?…. Hip Replacement Device – NYTimes.com

earlstevens58 — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:35:01 +0000

Hip Replacement Device – NYTimes.com.

Oh Really Mr DePuy – are we as stupid as you look?

Published: March 4, 2013

Re “What a Company Knew About Its Metal Hips” (editorial, Feb. 11):

All of us at DePuy are united by the goal of improving patients’ lives, so we understand that the Articular Surface Replacement Hip System recall has been of concern for patients, their family members and surgeons. I disagree with how your editorial described company actions regarding ASR testing, data analysis and communications.

ASR was tested for years before receiving regulatory clearance around the world. Once on the market, we carefully considered all the data and investigated product complaints individually, while also looking for broader performance trends. We continued to share appropriate and validated data with regulators and surgeons.

When we received new registry data reporting that ASR patients were undergoing a second hip replacement surgery sooner than expected, we recalled the product and immediately supported patients with a reimbursement program for their medical costs.

Joint replacement surgery is one of the greatest medical advances of our time. We remain dedicated to serving patients who need this important treatment option.

ANDREW EKDAHL

President, DePuy Orthopaedics

Warsaw, Ind., Feb. 25, 2013

During Trial, New Details Emerge on DuPuy Hip – NYTimes.com (earlsview.com)
FDA cracks down on all-metal hip replacements (earlsview.com)
DePuy Pinnacle Hip Replacement Lawsuits: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Comments on New Study Finding that Hip Replacement Failure More Likely in Women (earlsview.com)
DePuy ASR Hip Replacement Implant Lawsuit Trial Raises Questions About Johnson & Johnson’s Actions in Years Prior to DePuy ASR Hip Replacement Recall, According to Alonso (prweb.com)
RLG Responds to Report of Higher Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Failure Rates in Women (earlsview.com)
What DePuy Orthopaedics Knew About Its All-Metal Hips – NYTimes.com (earlsview.com)
DePuy Hid Data About Failed Hip Implant, Documents Show – NYTimes.com (earlsview.com)
Biomet Hip Replacement Lawsuits: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Files Biomet Hip Implant Lawsuit on Behalf of Biomet M2a Magnum Hip Replacement Recipient (prweb.com)
Study shows cost-effectiveness and benefits to patients of early hip replacement (earlsview.com)
Patients victims of untested medical devices – SFGate (earlsview.com)

Filed under: Cobalt chrome, Cobalt Poisoning, Cobaltism, DePuy ASR Hip, DePuy Hip Litigation, Hip Replacement, Hip Revisions, Johnson & Johnson, Metal on metal hip, Total Hip Replacement Tagged: articular surface replacement, Cobalt chrome, Cobalt poisoning, DePuy, DePuy ASR Hip, depuy hip recall, DePuy Hip Recall Litigation, DePuy Lawsuit, DePuy Orthopaedics, FDA, Food & Drug Administration, Health, Hip Replacement, Johnson, Johnson & Johnson, joint replacement, Medicine, Metal on metal hip, metal-on-metal hips, metallosis, New York TImes, Patient, surgery, UNited States

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