Millions of people across the world have received metal on metal hip implant devices since 2005. We now know that metal on metal hip implant devices may expose recipients to toxic levels of metals such as chromium and cobalt. A new study in a British Medical Journal (“BMJ”) has studied how metal ions seep into the bloodstream of metal on metal hip implant patients and cause problems such as pain that can lead to a replacement of the hip implant device. “This is one very large uncontrolled experiment exposing millions of patients to an unknown risk,” Michael Carome, deputy director of the patient advocacy organization, Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, said in a BMJ written statement. “We will only find out about the safety of these devices after large numbers of people have already been exposed.” The BMJ study was published on February 28, 2012 and is sure to concern all metal on metal hip implant recipients.
What are the implications of the study? There is now clear evidence that metal ions are being released by metal on metal hip implant devices and that those metal ions pose a health risk. For hip implant patients who do not yet have any symptoms, it is expected that a recommendation of yearly blood tests will be made. An annual blood test that checks the levels of chromium and cobalt should help prevent any catastrophic problems. Of course, if a metal on metal hip implant patient begins to have pain or other problems in the area of the implant, a doctor should be consulted at once. For patients who have already experienced problems and have had to have a revision surgery, it appears that there may be an avenue for compensation. Our law firm is actively pursuing the manufacturers of metal on metal hip implant devices because of defective design issues.
How did this health crisis come about? The Food and Drug Administration approved metal on metal hip implant devices in 2005 under a process that did not require extensive studying and testing of the hip implant device because it was similar to older designs. Only last year in may, 2011, did the FDA order metal on metal hip implant companies such as Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy and Wright Medical to conduct research into whether or not the devices were making people sick. And yet, incredibly, the BBC uncovered a 2005 memorandum from Johnson & Johnson’s division, DePuy Orthopedics, a manufacturer of hip implants, which shows that the company knew about the potential for metal toxicity in 2005! Here is some startling language from the memo.
“In addition to inducing potential changes in immune function,” the memo said, “there has been concern for some time that wear debris may be carcinogenic…Also worrying is the possibility of distant effects. One study suggested a threefold risk of lymphoma and leukemia 10 years after joint replacement.”
It is almost beyond belief that a well respected health products company would continue to market, aggressively, the metal on metal hip implant prosthesis in the face of this concern. Our law firm is committed to following this issue and pursuing the companies that have caused harm to our injury clients. If you have a metal on metal hip implant device, please contact us for a free consultation.
Contact the experienced injury lawyers at the law firm of Wilson & Hajek.
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Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Louisa County, Fluvanna County, Augusta County, Nelson County, Buckingham County, Madison County, Waynesboro, Staunton, Orange County, Greene County, and Culpepper, Virginia.
