Posts Tagged ‘particles’

Hip Devices Continue To Cause Harm

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

A recent New York Times article highlighted the fast rate of hip implant failures in the United States.  (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/01/health/01hip.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=hip%20surgery%20shows%20signs&st=cse)

The article notes that “[a]ll orthopedic implants, regardless of their composition, shed debris as they wear. But researchers say they believe that the particles released by some all-metal hips pose a special threat because scavenger cells dispatched by the body to neutralize the debris convert it into biologically active metallic ions. In some patients, a chain reaction begins that can destroy tissue and muscle.” Unfortunately, this failure was not a complete surprise.  “More than a decade ago, some researchers had warned that the hips shed tiny pieces of metallic debris that posed potential health threats to patients. ”

If you have a DePuy or other brand of metal hip implant, please call Bill Robertson today.  Bill’s direct dial phone number is 941.364.2433.

 

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Hold On To Your DePuy Explants

Monday, January 3rd, 2011

After DePuy issued its recall notice, it sent a letter to doctors and clinicians  and informed them that DePuy was willing to pay for their patients’ hip revision surgeries, BUT DePuy conditioned its offer on getting back the defective hip implants.  (Here’s the web address for DePuy’s letter – http://asrrecall.depuy.com/sites/default/files/DPYUS1%20Recall%20Notice.pdf)

Never mind the  fact that the patients with the defective hardware are the owners of the defective hardware, the real problem is that the explant is critical evidence in the effected patients’ cases against DePuy.

The hardware is critical evidence because it will allow an expert to determine whether the hip malfunctioned because of DePuy’s defective design and materials or whether the patient’s lifestyle caused the hip problems.  Obviously, DePuy will argue in response to lawsuits that the damages patients suffered are their own fault (or that of their doctors) and are not the fault of the manufacturer.

Hold on to your DePuy explants!  You do not need to agree to DePuy’s demands to get the health care and compensation you deserve.  If you have DePuy’s ASR XL Acetabular Hip System or ASR Hip Resurfacing System, do not sign any paperwork from DePuy and do not agree to release the DePuy explant without consulting with Bill Robertson, 941-364-2400.

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RECALL OF DANGEROUS ARTIFICIAL HIP IMPLANTS

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

DePuy Artifical HipDePuy, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, has issued a voluntary recall of a metal hip implant amid complaints of severe pain and worries that it might put patients at a risk for dementia and heart failure.

Since 2003, DePuy has sold nearly 100,000 units of the artificial hip device all across the country.  According to experts, problems have arisen because of friction between two portions of the device.  The friction of these parts, which are made of metal, cause small particles to shave off and enter the patient’s tissue and bloodstream which then cause severe pain and the risk of deafness, dementia, and heart failure.  In August, DePuy issued a recall of these devices and now recommends that implant patients have a blood test to check for high levels of the metals used in the implant, chromium and cobalt.
How to tell if you have an ASR hip implant
Kirk Pinkerton’s Bill Robertson is representing people who have been harmed by this defective product.  “The pain and suffering caused by this defective hip device is excruciating,” Robertson said.  “Worse, the need to undergo additional, major surgeries and the costs and expenses associated with medical care and recovery make this both a physical and economic nightmare for those effected.  These damages can be devastating over the long term for younger people who were the specific target of some DePuy and Johnson & Johnson marketing.”

For more information concerning DePuy’s recall please call Bill Robertson at (941) 364-2433.  More information can also be found through ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/depuy-hip-implant-recalled/story?id=12287543&page=3

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More Than 90,000 Could Be Affected By Hip Replacement Device Recall

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

Hip replacement devices could be linked to frequent surgeries after a recall of 90,000 systems manufactured by DePuy Orthopaedic Devices. The recall was announced by DePuy due to concerns from the Food and Drug Administration. Personal injury attorneys from the Sarasota-based law firm Kirk Pinkerton will be available for consultations regarding the recall, including William E. Robertson, head of the firm’s personal injury department.

The two systems involved in the recall include:

1. ASR XL Acetabular System which is a hip socket and

2. ASR Hip Resurfacing Platform, which is a partial hip replacement device.

Components in both systems were the subject of a voluntary recall which began on August 26, 2010.  The company has already stopped selling both products in the United States. Reports from the FDA cited by the New York Times and other media outlets indicate that the agency had concerns the implants would require repeat surgery in approximately 10-12% of all patients.

DePuy itself says that all 93,000 patients who received the devices would need to have their surgeons monitor their progress on a yearly basis, a step not initially required in the product literature. The company also noted that the revision rate, or percentage of patients needing additional surgeries, was higher than that of other hip replacement devices in its class.

Bloomberg wire services note that similar product recalls have led to medical device liability cases throughout the world in the wake of the recall. However, there is no indication in a court of law that similar lawsuits will yet bring damages to clients.

If you would like to consult a personal injury attorney regarding the DePuy hip replacement recall or other medical devices, call Bill Robertson at Kirk Pinkerton toll-free: 1-800-439-8911.

DISCLAIMER:

The facts and circumstances of your case may differ from the matters in which results and testimonials have been provided. All results of cases handled by Kirk-Pinkerton are not provided and not all clients have given testimonials. The results and testimonials provided are not necessarily representative of results obtained by Kirk-Pinkerton or of the experience of all clients or others with Kirk-Pinkerton. Every case is different, and each client’s case must be evaluated and handled on its own merits.

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