Oklahoma Injury Lawyer Blog

As reported in The New York Times, a jury has recently awarded former prison guard Loren Kransky, $8.3 million dollars. The substantial award came after Kransky accused DePuy Orthopedics - a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson - of marketing a hip implant that they knew to be faulty. The hip implant has since been recalled.

Kransky's attorneys argued that black pieces of metal broke off from the hip replacement and caused various health problems. The jurors agreed with Kransky that the ASR XL implant caused him to suffer health problems including metal poisoning. They declined to find, however, that the company acted with malice, foreclosing any award of punitive damages.

Kransky's suit is one of thousands of similar suits alleging fraud and negligence based on the all-metal ball-and-socket hip joint. DePuy Orthopedics pulled the hip replacement from the market two years ago, amid reports that the implant has left thousands with crippling injuries.

According to attorney for Kransky, Doug Saeltzer, "The message is that these cases are valid, that the injuries are real and severe, and Johnson & Johnson and DePuy have to pay significant money for their mistakes." DePuy plans to appeal the verdict (as usual), and claim that the "ASR XL was properly designed."

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We recently launched a micro-site for the defective DePuy Orthopedics ASR hip replacement devices. 

DePuy, a division of Johnson and Johnson Services, Inc. announced a recall of the dangers and defective hip implant on August 26, 2010. According to their numbers, at least 13% of the patients will require a second replacement surgery or revision. It's likely this number will be much higher.

We've added sections on:

• The DePuy Hip Recall
• Hip Replacement FAQ
  

Becker's Orthopedic & Spine Review have an excellent article on 5 Reasons Why Controversy Surrounds Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacements.

The article cites:

• Patients can develop soft tissue reactions to wear debris - a Dr. Markel is quoted: "Even though subspecialty surgeons were reporting these findings and that some patients were having problems, it wasn't enough to make a dramatic change in the market."


• The popularity of metal-on-metal could wane - Basically, just because one design was defective, doesn't mean they all are.


• Alternatives to metal-on-metal also have difficulties


• New Technologies are available


• The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons supports the hip replacements with cautioning of the risk

The article helps shed light on the various Depuy Hip Injury Lawsuits.

ABC News has an informative video about the Depuy Hip Implant Recall:

The hip system was designed and marketed for more active and younger patients. The system allows for a better range of motion. The problem though, is that the hip replacement system fails. Within 5 years, 12% of the systems have failed. The two main parts of the system rub against each other. This obviously causes severe pain, but it also may shave off the chromium and cobalt metal particles into the patient's body.

Johnson and Johnson's Depuy Orthopedics has recalled it's defective hip replacement systems due to a large number of patients requiring a second hip replacement. I had mentioned before that studies have shown that the metal-on-metal hip implants were problematic. (Concerns with metal-on-metal hip implants grow and Depuy ASR Hip Replacement Withdrawn).

You should contact your doctor if your hip replacement is made by DePuy. Our products liability law firm is currently review cases for DePuy hip replacement lawsuits.

DePuy Orthopedics has withdrawn their ASR hip replacement system from the market:

"In a letter dated March 6, DePuy told doctors that recently analyzed data from Australia suggest that the ASR had a higher-than-expected failure rate when used in traditional hip replacement on certain types of patients. The letter said that the data shows that the risk is highest for patients of small stature, a group that typically includes women, and patients with weak bones." See: With Warning, a Hip Device is Withdrawn.

What's interesting is that DePuy voluntarily withdrew the product in Australia last December. Why would they wait until now for the U.S. market?

The ASR hip replacement system belongs to the category of devices known as metal-on-metal implants. The problem with the system is that it can generate large amounts of metallic debris after they are placed into the body. The can damage muscles and often requires follow-up operations shortly after the replacement. Artificial hips usually last 15 or more years.

The article states that since 2008, the FDA has received about 300 complaints on the DePuy ASR Hip Replacement. Interestingly, "the number of such complaints typically understates a product's problem, however, because many doctors and hospitals never bother to file reports with the FDA."

The New York Times reported last week that more and more studies are showing problems with metal on metal hip replacements. The metal-on-metal artificial hips were first introduced about a decade ago. Initially, studies were showing that there was a potential to produce high levels of metallic ions, causing "allergic reactions" in patients. It turns out that the metal debris causes severe inflammatory reactions that can damage muscles, tendons, and soft tissue. The article mentions the following studies:

• 2008 Oxford University: At least 17 women that had undergone hi resurfacing with all metal devices experienced abnormal soft tissues masses in their hip joints


• England researchers: reported adverse reactions to metallic debris in 17 of 660 patients who received an implant made by DePuy Orthopedics. An additional group that received a system made by Smith & Nephew did not have metallic debris problems


• British Colombia: patients receiving a Druom socket (or cup) had significanly higher median blood serum levels of chromium (2.6 times) and cobalt (10 times).