CONCERNS OVER METAL HIP IMPLANTS PROMPT EUROPEAN REVIEW
About 40,000 patients in Europe who have received metal-on-metal hip implants will soon be hearing from their doctors. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is worried that in some patients, such implants could cause non-cancerous tumors and tissue damage.
In a small number of cases, debris from metal implants can cause non-cancerous tumors, severe swelling and sinew damage. According to the Sunday Times, last year a study by the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford, England found that of 1,200 patients who had undergone metal-on-metal hip resurfacing, 4% required a further operation because they developed "pseudotumors". Women under 40 were the most at risk, with 13% suffering this reaction.
Officials from MHRA said anyone considered at risk will be given tests to establish whether there are high levels of metal compounds in the blood. Those potentially affected include patients who have had full hip replacements involving metal-on-metal implants or had resurfacing operations. Patients impacted by these recommendations will be contacted by their doctors, MHRA said.
An official with the agency told the Sunday Times that the review likely means that some recipient of metal hip implants will need to have them replaced.
Recently, concerns over one such device, the ASR artificial hip implant, prompted DePuy Orthopedics to warn that the implant appears to have a high early failure rate in some patients. According to the letter to doctors, patients of small stature, a group that typically includes women and patients with weak bones, faced the highest risk. According to records from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), since the beginning of 2008, the agency has received about 300 complaints on the ASR involving patients in the U. S. In many of these cases, patients had to have their implants replaced.
Just months before DePuy issued the ASR hip implant warning, the company had announced that it was phasing out the device because of declining sales. The firm maintains that safety concerns did not play a role in its decision.
Contact a DePuy ASR Hip Implant Attorney Today
Davis & Crump is now handling claims for individuals who have been injured by a DePuy ASR Hip Implant. Davis & Crump is experienced in medical device product liability cases and settlements. If you or a loved one has been injured by a DePuy ASR Hip Implant, contact us at 1-800-277-0300 or send us an email at info@daviscrump.com.