Hip Replacement

If you or a loved one has suffered injury to a defective hip replacement there is help. The FDA has recently recalled ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System due to a high failure rate. Approximately 93,000 of these defective medical devices have been used in hip replacements from August 2003 until August 2010, and it is estimated that 12% of the hip replacements done will fail.

Hip replacements are a common surgery in the United States. Generally over 100,000 hip replacement procedures are conducted with a success rate of over 90%. New materials and advances in hip replacement surgery techniques ensure the hip replacements are durable and are expected to last more than ten years in most cases.

Florida Hip Replacement Attorneys

Lisa Levine focuses in the areas of medical malpractice that affect women, including failure to diagnose cervical or breast cancers, plastic surgery errors, birth injuries, delivery room negligence, and defective drugs used by women. She prides herself on her dedication to women’s health issues, and has been featured on Good Morning America and NBC News.

Mark Glassman focuses a great deal of his practice on injuries resulting from defective and dangerous drugs, as well as pharmaceutical litigation, and wrongful death litigation. Mr. Glassman has been involved in pharmaceutical cases involving the infamous diet drug, Fen-Phen, and his cases have been highlighted in professional journals such as The Daily Business Review and Contractor Magazine.

The attorneys of Levine & Glassman are fully-versed in this area of law and can help you receive the best possible compensation for the damages suffered from a defective medical device.

Hip Replacement Information Center

• What is a hip replacement?
• Who needs a hip replacement?
• What tests are given to diagnose problems with the hip?
• What is the ASR XL Acetabular System?
• What is the ASR Hip Resurfacing System?
• Why are ASR XL and ASR Systems defective?
• Complications associated with ASR XL and ASR Hip Systems
• How we can help

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What is a hip replacement?

hip replacement is a surgical procedure that reforms the hip joint. The most typical kind of hip replacement is a hip arthroplasty. It is also referred to as a total hip replacement or a THR.

In Total Hip Replacement, the surgeon replaces the head of the femur which is located in the pelvis socket with a metal ball and stem. This ball and stem functions as the hip joint.

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Who needs a hip replacement?

Statistically individuals in their 60s and 70s require hip replacements. However there are a number of conditions and injuries that make a hip replacement necessary for people of all ages. Some of these conditions are:

• Osteoarthritis- This condition is characterized as degenerative arthritis due to aging or wear and tear of the bones.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis- This condition is really an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joint and deformity of the bone, cartilage, ligament and muscle tissue around the hip and other joints.
• Traumatic Arthritis- This type of arthritis is a result from a hip injury that causes debilitating pain so it is necessary to replace the hip.
• Avascular Necrosis- This condition occurs when there is a loss of blood supply to the ball or head of the femur bone. The cartilage ends up wearing away and there is bone on bone interaction around the hip joint which eventually causes pain and deformity and the necessity for new hip joint.
• Benign or Malignant Tumors- Any tumor can change the shape of the joint and disrupt blood flow and affect the cartilage around the hip joint.
• Paget’s Disease- This condition is mostly seen in elderly people. The bones become enlarged and get weak with a higher risk for fracture or deformity at the hip joint.

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What tests are given to diagnose problems with the hip?

• X-ray- This is the first test given to determine the extent of damage to the cartilage or bone and maybe a reason for the degeneration can be found by using an x-ray.
• Blood tests- This test can determine if there are contributing factors to the hip degeneration
• Joint Aspiration- This test involves removing a small amount of fluid from the affected hip joint to test it for possible infections and conditions.

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What is the ASR XL Acetabular System?

The ASR XL Acetabular System is a hip socket used in traditional hip replacement surgery.

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What is the ASR Hip Resurfacing System?

The ASR Hip Resurfacing System is used in partial hip replacements and involves placing a metal cap on the ball of the femur.

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Why are the ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System defective?

The FDA has found design flaws in the ASR XL and ASR Hip systems because metal parts rub against each other which causes the release of metal ions into patients. Also the hip replacements tend to fail and need to be replaced at a higher rate than normal.

Roughly five years after implantation, approximately 12% or 1 out of 8 patients who had received the ASR resurfacing device or the ASR total hip replacement needed to have a revision surgery. Some people react negatively to the metal ions released from the metal parts rubbing together. Over time it is possible inflammation and the debris from the metal can cause damage to the muscles, bones and nerves around the hip.

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Complications associated with ASR XL and ASR

The ASR XL and ASR Hip Systems have metal parts that connect directly to other metal parts. Metal ions are released and can result in a condition called metallosis. Metallosis is the body’s reaction to a metal implant. The immune system attacks the metal implant because it sees it as a foreign object that does not belong. As a result of the immune system response, inflammation and scarring occurs around the implant. This inflammation and scarring causes pain and swelling and usually requires the replacement of the medical device. Some of the common problems associated with ASR XL and ASR Systems include:

• Difficulty walking
• Inflammation and swelling
• Loosening of the medical device
• Destruction of bone and soft tissue
• Dislocation of the medical device
• Decreased motion in the hip
• Infections
• Fractures

The best way to solve the complications associated with ASR XL and ASR Hip Systems is to undergo a revision which is a second surgery that removes the ASR XL and ASR Hip Systems and replace it either with bone grafts or another device. Revisions have complications as well because generally older people have hip replacements and there is always the threat of infection.

It is normal to have difficulty walking and inflammation after the initial hip replacement surgery. After the surgery within a few months to the inflammation and pain should decrease and you should be able to walk comfortably. If you still experience significant pain and inflammation years after surgery or years later you start to experience pain, it could be due to a medical device defect. Check with you doctor to determine whether your complications are due to the ASR XL Acetabular System or the ASR Hip Resurfacing System.

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How We Can Help

Surgeries are painful and expensive and in the case of ASR XL and ASR Hip Systems, completely avoidable and unnecessary. DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc, a division of Johnson & Johnson instituted a recall of the medical devices from patients, hospitals and surgeons due to the high failure rate. The FDA received numerous complaints over a two year period about these Hip Systems. Some patients who have yet to suffer any problems with the ASR XL and ASR Hip Systems are encouraged to get revision surgery as a precaution.

Many surgeons and physicians do not discuss with patients the type of hip replacements they are implanting. Often surgeons pick whatever brand of hip replacement because of incentives and deals with medical device suppliers instead of what is in the best interest of the patient. Many doctors claim that DePuy never warned them of the high failure rate of the hip replacements until the time of the recall. However if you or a loved one received one of these DePuy hip replacements and afterwards experienced injury, significant pain, or complications you do have legal options. It is possible to get compensation for the revision surgery and your pain and suffering depending on the facts of your case.

The Ft. Lauderdale and Miami medical malpractice attorneys at Levine and Glassman, P.A., are experienced in representing individuals throughout Florida who have suffered setbacks due to defective medical devices. Contact our personal injury attorneys today to discuss the particular facts and circumstances of your case. You should call (954) 332-6100 or fill out our online case evaluation form immediately to schedule your free consultation. We welcome your calls to our office.

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Resources

Web MD Hip Replacement Surgery - Overview of hip replacement surgery and details the different types of surgery and steps to recover from hip replacement surgery.

US Food and Drug Administration - Find out about drug and medical device recalls from the FDA.

Arthritis Foundation - Information about causes and treatments for arthritis.

Levine & Glassman, P.A. | Florida Defective Medical Device Attorneys

If you or a loved one has suffered side effects from a hip replacement that used ASR Hip Resurfacing System or ASR XL Acetabular System, you need to ensure that you are well represented. The complications from these medical devices can be long lasting and may require long term care. The attorneys of Levine & Glassman are experienced defective medical device attorneys and are able to ensure that you receive fair compensation for the damages you or your loved ones have suffered. If you are anywhere in Florida, including: Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, or the surrounding areas of Broward, Miami-Dade, or Palm Beach counties, contact Levine & Glassman for an analysis of your hip replacement case.