San Antonio Product Liability Lawyers Carabin Shaw Home
DePuy’s ASR
Understanding how the Depuy’s recalled ASR hip implant different from other hip implants.
In 2003, DePuy released its ASR hip implant system. The DePuy ASR implant was a unique, metal-on-metal- design. DePuy promoted the ASR implant as breakthrough in design that would last longer and provide patients more natural movement. Published reports suggest that the ASR hip implant was designed to last for 15 years.
Unfortunately, researchers have concluded that the DePuy ASR metal-on-metal hip implant has major design defects and have expressed grave concerns about its safety. First, the acetabular prosthesis, the “cup” is so shallow it is susceptible to so called “edge loading,” a situation where the joint’s ball strikes against the cup’s edge, chiseling off debris.
This defect leads to potentially severe complications. As the metal-on-metal surfaces of the implant parts rub together, microscopic ions of the heavy metals chromium and cobalt are released into the body. Elevated levels of chromium and cobalt can cause a potentially very dangerous condition know as metallosis. Metallosis is a reaction of the immune system to heavy metals in the body. Metallosis can cause severe complications such as destruction of surrounding bone and muscle. These complications can significantly increase the difficulty a doctor faces in performing a subsequent revision surgery to replace the defective DePuy ASR device.
Symptoms of metallosis include spontaneous dislocation of the joint, groin or thigh pain, fatigue, and intense pain at the site of the hip replacement. Questions have been raised whether metallosis may be a cause of heart irregularities and kidney disease. There is also concern that elevated levels of chromium and cobalt can have long-term effects including Chromosomal damage and cancer.
If you have had a hip replacement and the artificial hip is defective – call us at 800-862-1260.
In 2003, DePuy released its ASR hip implant system. The DePuy ASR implant was a unique, metal-on-metal- design. DePuy promoted the ASR implant as breakthrough in design that would last longer and provide patients more natural movement. Published reports suggest that the ASR hip implant was designed to last for 15 years.
Unfortunately, researchers have concluded that the DePuy ASR metal-on-metal hip implant has major design defects and have expressed grave concerns about its safety. First, the acetabular prosthesis, the “cup” is so shallow it is susceptible to so called “edge loading,” a situation where the joint’s ball strikes against the cup’s edge, chiseling off debris.
This defect leads to potentially severe complications. As the metal-on-metal surfaces of the implant parts rub together, microscopic ions of the heavy metals chromium and cobalt are released into the body. Elevated levels of chromium and cobalt can cause a potentially very dangerous condition know as metallosis. Metallosis is a reaction of the immune system to heavy metals in the body. Metallosis can cause severe complications such as destruction of surrounding bone and muscle. These complications can significantly increase the difficulty a doctor faces in performing a subsequent revision surgery to replace the defective DePuy ASR device.
Symptoms of metallosis include spontaneous dislocation of the joint, groin or thigh pain, fatigue, and intense pain at the site of the hip replacement. Questions have been raised whether metallosis may be a cause of heart irregularities and kidney disease. There is also concern that elevated levels of chromium and cobalt can have long-term effects including Chromosomal damage and cancer.
If you have had a hip replacement and the artificial hip is defective – call us at 800-862-1260.
