FDA Study Finds that Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants Don’t Offer A Lot More Advantages Than More Traditional Devices
According to a study commissioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), metal-on-metal hip implants and ceramic-on-ceramic hip implants don’t appear to offer a lot more advantages than the older ceramic-on-polyethylene and metal-on-polyethylene versions. People who were implanted with all-metal hip devices also appear twice as likely to have to undergo revision surgery. (Researchers in charge of the study compared newer and more traditional hip implants by looking at 18 studies involving over 3,000 patients. The results from 830,000 hip replacement surgeries were also examined.)
Meantime, according to WebMD, data from the registries in England and Wales, New Zealand, and Australia showed that metal-on-metal hip implant devices have exhibited higher rates of early implant failure than the metal-on-polyethylene versions. Also, there is no evidence that the newer types of hip implants do improve quality of life or functioning or decrease the need for repeat surgeries. In fact, a recent study that was conducted in England found that all-metal hip devices had a three times greater rate of early failure than their metal and plastic counterparts, which can last for up to 15 years or longer.
Throughout the state, our Charlotte, North Carolina defective medical device lawyers represent clients who suffered injury from DePuy hip replacement devices and other hip implants. Contact the Law Offices of Michael A. DeMayo, LLP today and ask for your free case evaluation.
The New York Times reports that legal and medical experts believe that hip failures could cost billions of dollars in the years to come—especially as not just one device or one company but an entire class of products are involved. Already, more than 5,000 defective all-metal replacement hip lawsuits and complaints have been filed. Many of these defective medical device lawsuits (by over 3,500 patients) were filed against Johnson & Johnson over its recalled DePuy hip implants. DePuy is also the defendant in more than 560 defective hip device lawsuits involving its Pinnacle model. In the next 10 years, tens of thousands of US patients may have to undergo replacement procedures.
Many of the devices are failing because the worn metal parts are damaging tissue, crippling patients, or shedding debris. It was just earlier this year that the FDA told 21 manufacturers of all-metal hip implant devices to commission post-market studies to determine whether their medical devices was shedding toxic amounts of metal debris inside patients. Hip implant makers who received the notice included DePuy, Zimmer, Biomet, Stryker, and Wright Medical. One reason this debris is proving dangerous is because after the body emits scavenger cells to neutralize these foreign particles, they can turn into biologically active metal ions that can damage the muscle and tissue. Even now, there may be many implant users whose tissues are being destroyed even though they are not experiencing any obvious symptoms.
The High Cost of Failing Artificial Hips, The New York Times, December 27, 2011
Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants Offer No Advantages over Older Versions, FDA Study Finds, News Inferno, November 30, 2011
Metal-on-metal hip implants, Food and Drug Administration
More Blog Posts:
North Carolina Defective Medical Device?: FDA Warns of Serious Complications from Using Transvaginal Mesh to Repair Pelvic Problems, North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog, July 27, 2011
Approximately 1,000 DePuy Hip Lawsuits Already Filed Against Johnson & Johnson, North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog, July 7, 2011
Protecting Americans from Defective Medical Devices: Is the FDA Doing Enough?, North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog, February 18, 2011
