Even before DePuy’s implants were recalled, the company was already well aware of their possibility to fail and affect their recipients. Artificial implant registries have busted the company because they revealed that thousands of recipients got the defective replacements.
Ideally, hip replacements should last for approximately 15 years. However, the ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System from DePuy only lasted for 5 years or less. The failure rate of these implants is estimated to be around 12-13%, which is very alarming.
The effects of these faulty replacements are equally overwhelming as well. The metal components slowly seep into the bloodstream, making blood cobalt levels double in almost toxic amounts. The only solution to this medical threat is through a revision surgery, where the recipient has to go under the knife again to take out the implant. Because of the implant registries in certain countries such as in the UK, the incidence of these revision surgeries was detected. When DePuy knew of this, the company then announced a recall of their hip implants to examine them.
Seeing that a national implant registry is actually effective, the US is now into talks of creating implant registries as well. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the National Orthopaedic Outcome Registry are establishing their own registries to track patient records and history. The registries will hopefully, in due time, protect the general public while promoting patient privacy. Concerns such as product liability and medical malpractice are likely to be addressed more efficiently. All these can be achieved with the creation of the implant registries without compromising the medical industries and staining the reputation of the country’s surgeons.
Until these registries will be officially launched, those with recalled hip replacements are still seriously affected by the situation. Allow an experienced hip replacement lawyer to guide you. Contact one to help defend your case against DePuy.