A manufacturing company has once again been charged with lawsuits because of defective metal-on-metal hip replacement. On December 16, 2011, complainants filed a motion with the US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) to fuse all court cases against Wright Medical Technology, Inc.
 
An article about the risks of metal-on-metal hip replacement surgeries was earlier published on the New York Times. The article entitled “Remedy Is Elusive as Metallic Hips Fail at Fast Rate,” presents how the hip operation injures the tissue in the hip area.

Medical specialists say that eventually, patients may encounter metallosis, implant failure, bone loss, tissue damage and other hip surgery problems.
 
One doctor commented to the Times that “As surgeons here sliced through tissue surrounding a failed artificial hip in a 53-year-old man, they discovered what looked like a biological dead zone. There were matted strands of tissue stained gray and black; a large strip of muscle near the hip no longer contracted.”
 
 
Hip Replacement Issues to be Addressed by Depuy

Legal experts report that numerous patients have filed lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson.  They were the suffering victims of DePuy product failures and defects, among them displacements, fractures and loosening. The signs of artificial hip device defect include:
 
· Pain when rising from a seated position
· Pain on the thigh or groin area
· Pain bearing weight
· Pain on the hip area
· Pain while walking
· Swelling
 
It extreme cases, these hip devices may completely fail, resulting in more severe health complication. This occur when:
 
· the unit is dislocated and misaligned; 
· the bone around the implant is fractured; and
· the device is not attached to the bone correctly.
 
Additionally, the malfunctioning hip devices may create an accumulation of toxic metal into the patient’s bloodstream. The body tissues may also form pseudotumors.
 

Delaying Hip Replacement Surgery Through Exercise

Released in April 2011, this study revealed that exercise can actually delay and even prevent hip replacement surgeries. This study was funded by the Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation, the Norwegian Rheumatism Association, and the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority.

Researcher Dr. Linda Fernandes said that "if you exercise early" in the course of the disease, "maybe you can prevent surgery long-term." Dr. Fernandes is a physiotherapist at Diakonhjemmet Hospital in Oslo.

Those who encounter any doubts and queries about their hip replacement surgery should see a physician as soon as possible.

Similar to the earlier mentioned litigation against Wright Medical Technology, there have been several DePuy lawsuit pursued by the patients affected by metal-on-metal hip device. The affected patients of DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. should seek legal advice regarding potential compensation from the company.

References:
· bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-03/johnson-johnson-sued-over-recalled-implanted-hip-replacement-devices.html
· arthritistoday.org/news/asr-depuy-hip-replacement-recall078.php
· nursinghomesabuseblog.com/defective-products/defects-with-depuy-hip-replacement-hardware-may-be-responsible-for-complications-following-hip-surgury/
· clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01338532
· internalmedicinenews.com/news/rheumatology-immunology/single-article/rigorous-exercise-may-delay-hip-replacement/e680cecb64.html
· orthopedics.about.com/od/arthritis/p/exercise.htm