Dangers of the Depuy ASR Hip Replacement and Hip Implant Failure.

The removal of an arthritic hip and the implantation of an artificial joint is a major surgery involving general anesthetic and the production of an incision 8 to 10 inches in length. Any operation that requires the patient to be completely sedated carries a degree of risk. Revision surgeries require much greater technical skill in part of the surgeons to achieve a functioning joint. The procedure also takes longer to perform and the patient will face a much longer recovery period. And, not to mention the cost of all this…. It’s important that if you are suffering from a defective implant to call a Hip Recall Lawyer right away.

Many people are intolerant of anesthesia, experiencing difficulty waking after the operation, post surgical confusion, and nausea. Normally these symptoms wear off when the drug is completely out of the patient’s system, but that may require several hours. If the patient becomes agitated during this period, the new hip can easily be damaged.

Some of the potential complications from the surgery itself and its immediate aftermath include, but are not limited to:

- The formation of blood clots. This is especially true as a post-surgical issue since the individual’s mobility will be understandably limited. After three or four days, however, the patient will be moving more and this danger lessens.

- Respiratory issues. Sometimes during surgery, pieces of fat from the bone marrow get into the bloodstream and move to the lungs where they cause serious breathing problems. If this happens and physical therapy cannot begin on schedule, the course of the overall recovery is compromised.

- Infection and bleeding. (Many surgical infections are the result of the hospital environment itself, generally from instruments that have not been properly sterilized.)

- Numbness due to nerve damage. (This often goes away as the post-surgical swelling resolves.)

- Other bones involved in the procedure break or splinter. This can be a serious complication if the portion of the bone to which the implant is to be attached becomes compromised.

- Post-surgical dislocation either as a consequence of improper aftercare, overly strenuous physical therapy, or a fall.

When the Implant Fails

When a hip implant fails in the first two to three years after the initial surgery, there are dangers beyond the discomfort and loss of flexibility and range of motion. One of the most serious is when the flawed implants generates metal debris that then enter the bloodstream, causing a host of potential complications including the danger of cardiac arrest.

To address the overall issue of the implant’s failure, a second surgery, or “revision” will be needed. The second surgery carries all of the dangers attached to the first operation, but to a higher degree. Revision surgeries require much greater technical skill to achieve a functioning joint. The procedure takes longer to perform and the patient will face a much longer recovery period.

DePuy (part of Johnson & Johnson) is trying to get away with giving the minimal help to victims of their ASR hip replacement recall. The ASR hip recall occurred because of a high failure rate and possible metal poisoning. Victims will now have to go through a painful and potentially dangerous second (maybe more) hip implant surgery.

DePuy is also trying to convince victims that they will help with testing when all they are doing is building a case against their own victims before a victim of the hip recall even knows what’s going on. This is why getting an ASR hip recall lawyer that knows how to fight a big company like DePuy. A hip replacement attorney can help you and your loved ones through this hip recall the right way!