St. Louis Injury Lawyer Blog

After more than 90,000 DePuy hip recalls, more and more patients are facing financial troubles as a result of the need to replace defective hip implants. The company's offers to pay patient's co-pays for necessary revision surgeries comes nowhere close to providing a victim with proper compensation. While you may think that's awfully nice of them, think again. Nearly 15 percent of patients report problems with their new hip in the first five years. Many believe that the ultimate failure rate of DePuy hip surgeries in Missouri and elsewhere in the United States will be much high in due time.

Ryan R. Cox, St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney, is currently assisting those who are experiencing immobility, suffering from pain or who are facing the need to endure a second surgery as the result of a defective hip implant. Medical complications and risks can include the risk of blood contamination or metal shavings in soft tissue.

According to the DePuy website, patient can experience symptoms like swelling, difficulty walking and other various forms of pain because of their product.

The patients who reported problems in the first five years and had revision surgery reported a variety of symptoms. These symptoms included pain, swelling and problems walking. These symptoms are normal if you have just had a hip replacement. If the symptoms continue or come back, it is a sign that there may be a problem.

The company contends these symptoms are caused by problems from loosening of the implant, fracturing where the bone around the implant may have broken and dislocation where two parts of the implant are no longer aligned.

As we recently discussed on our St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, accepting payment for a co-pay from DePuay could possibly negate a patient's ability to collect real damages as a result of being implanted with one of the defective medical devices. These damages include pain and suffering costs and lost wages. Patients who have undergone hip replacement surgery within the last five years should ask their surgeon if they were implanted with the ASR DePuy hip implant system.

The manufacturers of the hip replacement continue to work through its insurer in an attempt to settle these cases for pennies on the dollar. Patients also face a strict time limits to file a case.

Continue reading "Company Advice a good place to start; but DePuy Hip Replacements should be Handled by St. Louis Attorney" »

There are reports that recipients of the defective ASR DePuy hip implant may be receiving letters from the manufacturer, or on behalf of the manufacturer, which offer to pay the insurance co-pay for revision surgery.

Please contact a DePuy Defective Hip Attorney in St. Louis or elsewhere before accepting any payment as the result of being implanted with one of these defective medical devices. The company continues to work through its insurer, Broadspire, in an attempt to settle these cases for pennies on the dollar. There is also strict time limits for patients to file a case.

As we reported recently on our St. Louis Injury Lawyer Blog, the hips have been recalled because of a host of problems, including failure and metal shavings found in the soft tissue around the system. Some 90,000 of the systems have been recalled -- 13 percent of patients report problems within the first five years though many think the ultimate failure rate will be much, much higher.

In January, the Wall Street Journal reported parent company Johnson & Johnson recorded a $1 billion charge related to the initial recall. Symptoms that could signal the need for a second hip replacement surgery include pain in the groin, leg or hip, pain or stiffness, fluid formation, numbness or weakness and thyroid issues, including fatigue and weight gain.

Accepting payment for a co-pay could negate a victim's ability to collect real damages as a result of being implanted with one of these defective medical devices, including money for lost wages, pain and suffering and other costs. Those who have undergone hip replacement surgery in the last five years should ask whether they were implanted with the ASR DePuy hip implant system.

Continue reading "Don't Accept Co-Pay Offer, or Payment for DePuy Hip Issues in Missouri without Consulting an Attorney" »

Metal particles shaving off into the soft tissue around the hip is one possible complication for patients who have been implanted with a defective DePuy hip replacement system.

Our St. Louis personal injury law firm handles cases for clients who are dealing with a defective hip. As we reported recently on our St. Louis Injury Lawyer Blog, patients are often being forced to endure a second surgery to rid themselves of this defective medical device.

Thus far, DePuy, a division of Johnson & Johnson, has recalled more than 90,000 of the ASR Systems. Some estimate 13 percent of patients report problems within the first five years, although many believe the failure rate will ultimately be much higher.

The Food and Drug Administration failed to alert U.S. citizens of the risk until officials in the United Kingdom reported the high failure rate. U.K officials now advise patients to be tested for metal in the blood -- no such warning has been issued in this country.

Metallosis is a condition caused by metal particles building up in the area around the implant. Symptoms may include:

-Hip pain.

-Swelling and inflammation.

-Rash

-Difficulty walking or standing.

Metallosis develops as a result of friction between the ball and socket, which scrapes off metal particles. These particles, which include chromium and cobalt, may accumulate in nearby tissue and even travel through the bloodstream.

The symptoms may point to serious problems with the hip implant, including a loosening of the implant from the bone, fractures around the bone where the implant is attached, dislocation and damage to tissue, muscles and nerves around the site of the implant.

The New York Times report is available here.

Continue reading "Metallosis a side-effect seen in DePuy Hip patients in St. Louis" »

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking a closer look at metal hip replacement implants after the recall of the DePuy hip replacement system, the Wall Street Journal reports.

St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney Ryan R. Cox is assisting clients who are suffering pain, immobility or the need to endure a second surgery as a result of having a defective hip implant. In some cases the medical risks and complications may go beyond the need to have a second surgery and can include the risk of metal shavings in soft tissue and blood contamination.

Unfortunately, FDA approval is failing to protect the public in an increasing number of cases. Pharmaceuticals or medical devices are too often undergoing clinical trials in third-world countries. And the FDA relies upon the research of device and drug makers to deem a product safe. In other cases, the government has been accused of letting campaign contributions and politics interfere with the process. In still others, doctors are paid by device and drug makers to promote and use the products, sometimes to the detriment of the patient.

The Wall Street Journal reports problems with the DePuy hip came to light after an investigation in the United Kingdom. The FDA has now began an investigation into whether other hip-replacement systems with metal parts may be defective. The investigation in this country was launched after several American companies, including Johnson & Johnson, reported poor sales of hip systems containing metal.

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. suspended sale of a metal hip cup called Durom in mid-2008 after reports of the cup loosening. The company blames surgeons. DePuy recalled its ASR all-metal hip system in August after the U.K. reported a high rate of repeat procedures.

Once composing about one-third of the U.S. market, all-metal hip-replacement systems have been waning in popularity as hips made of other materials come on the market. Each system has benefits and drawbacks that may suit an individual patient.

However, the metal systems have also been linked to metal shavings in nearby tissue and may be linked to problems associated with the thyroid and metal in the blood.

The President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons said the metal systems work well in a "significant majority" of cases but there have been some "concerning exceptions."

The Wall Street Journal reports he has also received royalties from DePuy.

Continue reading "Defective DePuy ASR Hip may illustrate risk of metal hip implants " »