In the past few years, several hip replacement implants have been recalled due to early failures. These failures generally manifest with extreme pain in the first few years after hip replacement. This often requires revision surgery, which can be more expensive than the original replacement surgery and can be riskier due to scar tissue.
The first recall was by Stryker Corporation. They recalled the Trident PSL and Hemispherical Acetabular Cups on January 22, 2008. Some of the problems experienced with these products include failure of the cup, squeaking noises from ceramic portions of the implants, and improper seating of the implants, leading to bone fractures. Reports of problems began in 2005, but it took several years before a recall was issued.
The second major recall is the Zimmer Durom Cup. Sales of this were suspended in 2008 due to problems caused by loosening or failure to bond of the implant cup. Patients experience pain and many have to have additional surgery to repair the problem. This product was first used in the United States in 2006 and it is estimated that approximately 12,500 patients have this product. At first, doctors could not determine what was wrong because placement and x-rays appeared normal, but then they did surgery and the cups would just pop free.
The most recent recall, announced August 26, 2010, is for two types of implants manufactured by DePuy Orthopaedics (a division of Johnson & Johnson)—the ASR XL Acetabular System (total hip replacement) and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System (bone-conserving procedure). The ASR XL Acetabular system is the cup portion of a replacement hip joint. The resurfacing system is a partial hip replacement that involves putting a metal cap on the femur. The resurfacing system is only available in the United States as part of a clinical trial at this time. Both were recalled because data showed about 12% of patients needed revision surgeries within five years. In addition, some patients have experienced symptoms of metal poisoning from the materials used in this product.
If you believe you or a loved one has one of these artificial hip implants and have symptoms such as pain, limping, decreased flexibility, noises from the hip, or a sense of it just feeling wrong, you may have a artificial hip replacement failure. Several attorneys, including those of D’Amore Law Group, have been pursuing defective product claims against these companies. Please contact us for a free consultation.
