Boston Injury Lawyer Blog
According to The Telegraph, early findings from a British study on “metal-on-metal” devices indicates that using an all-metal hip implant may up the risk of a patient developing cancer and sustaining genetic damage. Per the study, conducted by orthopedic consultants in England and run by the University of Bristol, the bladders of over one in five patients who were monitored appear to have undergone cellular changes after they received the implant devices.
Obviously, this is more bad news for patients that with “metal-on-metal” hip devices. As our Boston injury lawyers have mentioned before, these hip implant users already have had a lot to contend with over concerns involving early failure rates and the risks of metal poisoning, which could occur should traces of metal enter a patient’s blood stream (this also may increase the chance of cancer), inflammation, and destroyed bone and muscle from metal pieces breaking off because of the friction created by the metal cup and ball.
For this latest study, 72 patients were studied. Genetic damage was found in the bladders of 17 participants. Three of them ended up developing cancer. That this many people experienced changes to their DNA is important to know because it is this damage that could eventually turn into cancer.
If you believe your injuries or health complications may be a result of your all-metal hip implant device, our Boston products liability law firm wants to hear from you. According to the New York Times, as of December more than 5,000 defective implant lawsuits had been filed over all-metal replacement hip implants. Some 3,500 of the products liability complaints involve DePuy hip implants. Johnson & Johnson is DePuy’s parent company. In 2010, the medical device manufacturer recalled some 40,000 DePuy all-metal implant devices. Also, although DePuy’s Pinnacle all-metal hip implants haven’t been recalled, there are some patients who are reporting similar problems.
Hip replacement patients could face increased risk of cancer, The Telegraph, February 4, 2012
The High Cost of Failing Artificial Hips, The New York Times, December 28, 2011
More Blog Posts:
Boston Products Liability Lawsuits Filed Over DePuy ASR Hip Devices, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, January 4, 2011
Defective Medical Device?: DePuy Hip Replacement Recall Leads to Products Liability Lawsuits, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, September 29, 2010
Transvaginal Mesh: FDA Wants Manufacturers to Conduct Three-Year Studies on Complications, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, January 14, 2012
To schedule your free case evaluation with our Massachusetts defective medical device law firm, contact one of our Boston injury lawyers at Altman & Altman, LLP today.
