Hip Replacement Cancer a Risk of All-Metal Implants
After the DePuy hip replacement recall began in August 2010, recipients of the ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System came forward to discuss their hip replacement failure symptoms, including the swelling, clicking noises, loosening, dislocation, and worse, the metal poisoning that can result from cobalt and chromium ions flaking off the implant’s components. Thousands of injured recipients are filing DePuy hip replacement lawsuits against the manufacturer and its parent, Johnson & Johnson. However, a forthcoming study indicates that recipients might have another side effect to worry about: hip replacement cancer and “genetic damage.”
Study Produces ‘Shocking’ Findings
The British news Web site, the Telegraph, reports that orthopedists in Bristol conducted a study on all-metal hip replacements. They hypothesized that metal ions from the hip implant would not only chemically damage surrounding tissues but would also cause “chromosomal abnormalities” to cells in internal organs, particularly the bladder and kidneys. The researchers then gathered data on 72 recipients, and they found that 17 of them (23.6 percent) suffered genetic damage in their bladders and three of them (4.2 percent) had already developed bladder cancer. One orthopedic surgeon at Southmead Hospital, Dr. Angus McLean, expressed surprise that the study had not been publicized in the media. He said the researchers “could not believe what they had found,” and he characterized their results as “shocking.” Although the study has not yet been formally published, its authors will present it at the British Hip Society’s annual conference.
Despite the findings, Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency did not know of an increase in hip replacement cancer among recipients, and DePuy did not comment.
RLG Advocates for Those Injured by All-Metal Hips
Medical device companies advertised all-metal hip replacements as an advanced technology that would allow younger recipients to continue their active lifestyles. In reality, they’ve injured thousands upon thousands of recipients, including many who are now crippled. On top of these fears, many recipients might now face hip replacement cancer because the manufacturers insufficiently tested their products. If you received a recalled DePuy ASR hip replacement, it’s important to know that the amount of compensation from a hip replacement lawsuit might be greater than what DePuy will offer to reimburse you via its reimbursement program. As a plaintiff, you might be able to recover full medical costs, including those for hip replacement cancer treatment, lost income, transportation expenses, and damages for pain and suffering. If you click on this link, a hip replacement lawyer from the Rottenstein Law Group will reach out to you as soon as possible and give you a free, confidential legal consultation.
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