DePuy Lawsuit News
One of the problems that helped prompt the 2010 DePuy hip recall was that some patients experienced dislocation of their implants shortly after surgery. Not only does this cause severe pain, but is also impairs movement. The patient may be unable to stand, and find it impossible to walk. Please contact us for the latest DePuy lawsuit news if you have suffered problems related to the DePuy hip replacement recall.
Hip replacement dislocations can occur even if the implant is installed by an experienced, skilled orthopedic surgeon. It is estimated that nearly 4 percent of primary surgeries result in dislocation. Below, we’ll describe the circumstances that cause this problem, and explain how the issue is resolved. We’ll also describe why recipients of the DePuy ASR hip replacements may be more susceptible than other patients.
How Hip Implant Dislocation Occurs
During hip replacement surgery, the femoral head is removed, and the damaged cartilage of the hip joint (acetabulum) is reamed. An artificial cup is placed deeply into the socket, and a ball is inserted into the cup. The ball is attached to a femoral stem that is implanted into the center of the femur.
Dislocation of a typical hip implant can occur for a few reasons. Surgery causes the natural stabilizing components of the hip joint to become less effective at keeping the hip in place. Muscles and ligaments (known as the articular capsule) normally keep the ball connected to the acetabulum, providing stability to the joint. Surgery weakens these ligaments. As a result, the hip capsule provides less stability for the ASR device, making dislocation more likely.
This is the reason patients are discouraged from crossing their legs, sitting on couches, and sleeping on their sides. Each of these activities can cause the artificial ball to “pop out” of the socket.
Treating A Dislocated Hip Implant
If a hip replacement becomes dislocated because the patient moves her hip wrongly, the joint can usually be popped back into place. This is called reduction. The doctor will pull on the recipient’s leg to position the ball back into the cup.
Occasionally, repositioning the ball proves ineffective. The hip continues to dislocate, causing persistent pain and inconvenience for the patient. These cases, while rare, usually warrant revision surgery to replace the hip implant.
Why Dislocation Of DePuy ASR Devices Happens
Thus far, we have addressed “normal” incidents of dislocation among recipients who have undergone total hip replacement surgery. This is useful in order to compare the problem to that posed by the ASR implants mentioned in the recent DePuy hip recall.
One of the complaints lodged by orthopedic surgeons is that the acetabular component of the DePuy devices is too shallow. As a result, it fails to secure the femoral head properly. This design flaw poses a number of side effects, including bone fractures, loosening of the joint, and ultimately, dislocation.
Earlier, it was mentioned that up to 4 percent of total hip replacement surgeries end in dislocation. A large portion of these incidents are due to patients moving their legs improperly, thereby placing strain on their implants. By contrast, up to 12 percent of patients who have received the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System experienced complications that required revision surgery within 5 years.
Potential For Dislocation After Hip Revision Surgery
During revision surgery, the acetabulum is reamed in order to smooth the bone. A new cup is then installed into the socket. Often, by the time revision surgery is performed, the surrounding bone has become weakened by fractures, making it difficult to securely implant the replacement ASR. The surgeon may be forced to install a larger cup in order to compensate for the weakened socket. While doing so is helpful, problems remain. Studies show that up to 15 percent of revision hip surgeries result in dislocation.
DePuy Lawsuit Update
Since 2003, over 90,000 people have received the ASR hip implants. With a 12-13 percent failure rate, there are thousands of patients who are affected by the recent recall. If you are suffering from hip pain, tissue damage, joint dislocations, or other serious DePuy hip replacement recall side effects, learn more about your legal options. Contact a DePuy lawsuit hip attorney to discuss your case.