Our Boston injury lawyers represent clients who have sustained injury or other health complications because of a defective hip implant or another failed medical advice. In the last couple of years, there has been an increase in Massachusetts products liability cases over hip replacement devices that have failed sooner than they should, requiring their users to undergo another replacement within five years and/or sustain bone fractures, dislocated implants parts, tissue damage, or other health issues.
Now, a study published in the journal Advanced Materials is reporting on a new coating for hip implants that might be able to get them to better adhere to the bones of a patient, potentially preventing premature failure. Right now, artificial hip devices use bone cement. Yet this cement is cracking in some patients, which is causing the device to separate from the bone. This can create chronic pain and mobility loss for the patient.
The new coating is made from materials that encourage the bone to grow quickly. Generating new bone can more easily secure the implant to the existing bone. Right now, the chemical engineers involved in the study are testing the coating on animals. They also believe that the coating could be used with dental implants.
Hip Implant Failures
If you suspect that your hip implant is causing swelling, pain, or giving you problems walking, it is a good idea to see your physician. You should also contact a Boston hip implant defect law firm to see whether you may have grounds for a case.
It was just a couple of years ago that DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. announced the recall of its ASR Hip Resurfacing System and ASR Xl Acetabular System because of early failure. Some 93,000 DePuy hip devices had been implanted in patients by then. That said, this is not the only hip implant device that has reported premature failures. DePuy is a Johnson & Johnson company.
Undergoing hip implant surgery is a painful procedure and usually the patient will need time to recover and learn how to walk with the new device in place. There is also the risk of complications. For a hip implant to fail within five years is way too soon and can seriously threaten the patient’s health.
Hip Implant Coating May Reduce Premature Failure Risk, Medical News Today, April 24, 2012
Advanced Materials
DePuy Orthopaedics Voluntarily Recalls ASR(TM) Hip System, J & J, August 26, 2010
More Blog Posts:
“Metal-on-Metal” Hip Replacement Devices May Increase Cancer Risk, Says Study, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, May 13, 2012
Boston Products Liability: Yaz Birth Control Pill May Cause Serious Side Effects and Health Complications, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, April 12, 2012
Defective Medical Device?: DePuy Hip Replacement Recall Leads to Products Liability Lawsuits, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, September 29, 2010