Recent Medical Study finds Metal-on-Metal Artificial Hips have High Failure Rates

"Beyond the well-publicized recall of the Depuy ASR metal-on-metal hip implant, this study casts doubt on the safety and efficacy of all metal-on-metal implants. An FDA recall or ban of these devices could be imminent." - Joshua S. Kincannon, Esq., co-chair of medical device implant litigation department at Keefe Bartels.

A new study released in The Lancet, one of the world's leading medical journals, concluded that metal hip replacements have a dramatically higher failure rate than other types of artificial hip devices.  This study has created safety concerns and prompted a call for a ban. British medical regulators had previously warned the public, and approximately 50,000 Britons with all metal hip implants, of newfound dangers associated with these implants. Click here to read this study.

On February 28, 2012 the United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced that patients with metal-on-metal hip implants should get yearly blood tests.  Evaluating cobalt and chromium levels, such tests would determine if these implants were producing dangerous amounts of toxic metallic debris. Click here to read this press release.

Accumulation of metal debris from implants can cause tissue damage, cysts and pseudo tumors, cause premature device failure, necessitate subsequent revision surgery and result in other long term health problems.

Analyzing data from over 400,000 hip replacement cases between 2003 and 2011, the Lancet study found that patients with all-metal hips had a 6.2% probability of requiring a replacement within 5 years.  These failure rates were up to four times greater in larger-head implants and in those devices used for women. Click here to read the BBC news article.

The widespread use of metal-on-metal hip implants continues in the United States, while the use of such devices continues to decline in Britain. Estimates show over 500,000 patients with these metal-on-metal devices in this country. Some manufacturers of metal-on-metal devices:

• DEPUY ORTHOPAEDICS
• ZIMMER ORTHOPEDICS
• WRIGHT MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES
• BIOMET ORTHOPEDICS

If you or a loved one has a metal-on-metal hip implant and is experiencing pain, swelling and/or redness, clicking, limited range of motion, or has experienced device failure and revision, please contact our office immediately.

Keefe Bartels, LLC, handles complex medical device implant litigation throughout the nation.  Our offices are headquartered in Red Bank, New Jersey.  For more information, please visit the firm's website at www.defectivejoints.com

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Growing Number of Implants

Americans undergo 250,000 hip replacements and 500,000 knee replacements every year. By 2030, researchers expect annual hip implants to double. In that same time frame, knee implants will likely increase to 3,500,000 per year. This growing trend means the number of defective joints will also increase.

The number of patients struggling with defective hip or knee implants is growing along with our aging baby boomer population. Osteoarthritis and other age-related conditions cause many patients to have hip replacement surgery, knee replacement surgery, or some other form of joint replacement.

Many people recover quickly and recapture the quality of life they had before undergoing the replacement. Others, however, are not as fortunate and may suffer from pain, swelling, limited range of motion, or other symptoms. A faulty implant may fail altogether due to a defect or negligence. When this happens, patients must undergo revision or even replacement surgery.

Current and Reliable Information

The law firm of Keefe Bartels recognizes that medical implant patients need current and reliable information so that they can understand how their medical device affects their body. We provide DefectiveJoints.com as a resource for those struggling with defective implants. The website is your resource for the latest news and updates about medical implant recalls and litigation.

Moreover, DefectiveJoints.com gives you all the facts. From the recent recall of the Depuy ASR hip implant to the mass tort litigation involving the Artelon CMC thumb spacer, we provide current and accurate information. We want you to know what we know.

Defective Medical Implant Attorneys

Recent news stories have reported recalls of hip and knee implants. As someone with a knee or hip implant, or other medical implant device, you may be concerned whether your replacement is defective. You probably want to know whether you have a legal claim and what your legal options are.

Keefe Bartels can help. For years, our attorneys have assisted victims of faulty medical implants to obtain monetary compensation from the manufacturers of these defective products. Our medical implant group handles cases against all device manufacturers, including DePuy, Zimmer, Stryker, Smith & Nephew, Howmedica, and others.

The Keefe Bartels Promise

Our defective implant attorneys consistently obtain results. We have recovered millions of dollars for clients suffering from faulty medical implant devices. We have gained a reputation for working hard to obtain successful settlements and verdicts for our clients. Our experienced and professional attorneys provide aggressive legal representation.

Contact Keefe Bartels today to set up a free consultation. An experienced attorney will sit down with you and go over your legal rights.

Keefe Bartels