Study: Exercise May Delay Hip Replacement

Several medical resources constantly say that exercise can help protect you from heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, muscle pains, osteoporosis. Another study reveals a new significant benefit of exercises especially to patients with bone problems and hip problems. Along with negative issues about metal-on-metal hip replacement devices, a recent study thigh size is a factor in hip replacement failure.

A research study revealed that exercise can delay and prevent hip replacement surgeries. A three-month exercise program seemed to have significantly delayed, and perhaps even prevented, hip replacement surgeries in a Norwegian randomized, controlled trial. This study was funded by the Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation, the Norwegian Rheumatism Association, and the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority.

The aim of the study is to determine the time span to total hip replacement in patients with hip osteoarthritis. Aged between 40-80 years old, the 109 patients who participated in the exercise program had mild to moderate hip pain and were not yet eligible for hip surgery. The patients were grouped into two.One group underwent both a supervised exercise program and patient education, while the other group gone through patient education only. They had three 90-minute educational discussions where they were told to stay active, even if it hurts a bit. Within the first 6 years after starting in the routine program, 22 patients (40%) had gotten a hip replacement. Meanwhile, in the control group, 31 patients (57%) had their artificial hip during the follow-up period. Exercise patients also had significantly less pain and better function, not only in the spring of 2011 but also at earlier follow-up points.

"If you exercise early" in the course of the disease, "maybe you can prevent surgery long-term," said researcher Dr. Linda Fernandes, a physiotherapist at Diakonhjemmet Hospital in Oslo. "But that is just a theory. We can’t really say anything about cause and effect here," she added.

According to her, the next best step would be a larger randomized trial. Hence, in the meantime the research team is analyzing patients’ biomechanics to evaluate if they correlate with the results of the study.

This information is most especially significant to patients with hip problems who suffered from defective artificial hip devices namely DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System manufactured by Johnsons & Johnsons (J&J). In the press time, the DePuy multidistrict litigation contains hundreds of cases and more DePuy hip replacement lawsuit is expected to be filed. Hence, those who experience any doubts and concerns about their hip surgery, they should immediately report these to their doctors. Moreover, they should seek legal advice to find out if their situation qualifies for medical compensation. According to legal observers, the DePuy hip replacement recall should serve as a lesson to other device manufacturers to strengthen and certify the safety of their products.

DePuy Patients Become Complainants

About seven years after its release in the world market, DePuy hip implants had been recalled due to its high failure rate. Formal complaints have already been filed by patients who were affected by the defective artificial hip devices. Moreover, a recent study published in the medical journal, Lancet, and funded by the National Joint Registry for England and Wales recommends orthopedists not to utilize all-metal hip devices in their patients. The British Hip Society proposes for an informal all-metal hip replacement ban. Speaking of healthcare system, Rochelle Rottenstein, principal attorney and founder of the Rottenstein Law Group, shared her criticisms on the law, named Medical Device User Act.

DePuy's former endorser has now become one of its latest vocal critics. After receiving the ASR hip resurfacing system in 2004, former British gymnast Penny Brown joined DePuy and became its poster lady. For years, she has been part of DePuy's campaign and has delivered testimonials about how her life was changed after her operation. Roughly five years later in 2009, symptoms of implant failure started to become evident, starting with a severe pain in her groin. As was reported in a Daily Mail article, she regretted both the implant and advocating for them. Brown is now joining a 300-person DePuy hip replacement class action lawsuit.

DePuy Orthopaedics released its ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System in 2003. Orthopedic surgeons quickly adopted the all-metal hip implant as renowned personalities root for the device's safety and effectiveness. The device instantly became well-known, even if it wasn't subjected to a premarket trial, because a large number of patients became recipients and famous stars gave assurance of its effectivity and safety. Alongside its popularity are negative criticisms and feedbacks.

Nearly one in three of the patients monitored by the National Joint Registry for England and Wales have reportedly shown signs of implant failure. Approximately 29% of the 2,100 ASR patients monitored by the registry had implant failure in six years. This is higher than the failure rate of other metal-on-metal hip implants, which is 9.5 percent. Additionally, the Australian National Joint Replacement Registry has issued seven reports to DePuy starting in 2007 indicating flaws with the implant. In 2006, the registry had detected a 50% higher-than-normal failure rate in the ASR.

The number of complaints filed by patients who had metal-on-metal hip implants have surged this year, according to the New York Times in an articlepublished in August 2011. More than 5,000 adverse reports had been received by the US Food and Drug Administration since the start of this year. The number is higher when compared to the combined number of the four previous years. Seventy-five percent of the total complaints are against the ASR hip, the New York Times report says.

Responding to negative reports, DePuy has ordered a hip replacement recall on its ASR device. "We're setting the right high bar for the industry in how we're managing the recall," says Michael Mahoney, Johnson & Johnson chairman for medical services. "But it is something that we're continuing to work through."

References:

• arthritistoday.org/news/asr-depuy-hip-replacement-recall078.php
• thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960353-5/fulltext

Hip Surgery as Hip Fracture, Osteoporosis Treatment

Less credited part of the body are hips, medical observers say. The medical term for hips is “coxa.” Moreover, hips allow the legs in space to be mobile and it also transfers the upper body pressure to the lower limbs. This body part is responsible for carrying the weight of our upper body and providing stability so we are able to walk, stand or run. Hips are also one of the most vulnerable parts to pain and problems. Thus, hip replacement surgery was developed. Medicines, weight loss, exercise and hip replacement surgeries are not the only solutions to hip pain problems. There are also several foods that may help, according to medical experts. The treatment for hip pain will vary, depending on the condition of each individual patient. Hip surgeries are one of the most risky treatments. This surgery has been controversial due to the possibility of hip device failure, such as the ones manufactured by DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Defective prostheses device, like the recalled DePuy hip replacement system, is one of the problems of these procedures. Close to two years after the hip recall began, the first DePuy ASR hip trials have been scheduled. Two hip replacement lawsuits will go before the juries of Nevada and Maryland state courts on December 3, 2012 and in January 2013, respectively. Both cases involve three recipients each of DePuy Orthopaedics recalled ASR hip replacements.

Hip fracture is a common problem in the United States. In managing hip injuries, total hip replacement is one of the best choices, some medical specialists say. Since most of the surgery patients are aged 65 and up, the search for less invasive procedures is on. One of the best options in handling hip fracture is a total hip replacement, given that the patient is able to cope with the conditions of this procedure. Risks and complications are always present in surgeries, especially that there exist allegations on defective medical products such as the DePuy hip replacement.

As we get older, the normal defense of our body will significantly weaken. Diseases will also seem to be sprouting like a bunch of mushrooms. Bone diseases like osteoporosis and other joint problems are common. People in the upper age group of around 65 and above are the ones who usually experience these. The hips may greatly distract daily normal activities when injured and diseased. Aside from hip fracture, it is known that osteoporosis is one of the most usual problems of the hips. A time will come that osteoporosis patients will need to go through hip surgery, too.

Hip replacement surgery is what you call the procedure wherein the injured part of the hip is removed and eventually replaced with a new device. To relieve the individual from pain and resume or improve the function of the hips is the main procedure of that surgery. Although the procedure’s prognosis is good, it is still alarming that there might be complications due to defective devices. The allegations on DePuy metal-on-metal product serve as an example.

Some patients said that they experienced mobility difficulties and any actions that require pressure on the hips due to the premature loosening of the device. The device is also associated with metal toxicity because metal bits from the implanted might enter the bloodstream of the patient. There is in fact more and more people filing  DePuy hip replacement lawsuit  for them to be compensated from the sufferings they encountered upon using the device. Finally in August 2010, the manufacturer implemented the worldwide recall of their hip devices.

References:

nytimes.com/2011/12/15/business/bill-would-require-more-monitoring-of-implants.html?_r=1

prweb.com/releases/senate-bill-track-implant/failure-rates-depuy/prweb9050119.htm

losgranos.com/bill-would-require-more-monitoring-of-implants/

Hip Replacement Failure Leads to More Painful Surgery

When a hip replacement surgery fails, there may be a need for a more painful, more complex and more costly hip revision procedure. Any surgical attempt may have potential complications. The complexity of revision joint surgery increases the chance of complications, including a likely defective hip device. Now, Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is recommending that recipients receive lifetime hip replacement checkups, according to Reuters.

Every surgery may have potential risks and complications. The decision for a joint revision surgery is based on many factors. Although joint replacement is successful in many patients, certain signs and symptoms will indicate that the implant has failed in others. Joint revision surgery is necessary when pain, swelling, limp, stiffness, or instability of a failed prosthesis become too great. The complexity of revision corrective joint surgery increases the possibility of complications too. One reason for a primary hip surgery failure is a defective hip device.

  

Hip revision surgery is a procedure involving the repair an artificial hip joint (prosthesis) that has been damaged over time due to an infection, or due to normal wear and tear of the prosthetic hip. Revision surgery further helps to correct the problem so the hip can function normally again.

In hip replacement surgery, the diseased parts of the hip are replaced with an artificial hip device. Meanwhile, in hip revision surgery, the artificial hip joint is removed and replaced with a new one. Depending on the severity of the infection, more than one hip revision surgery may be required. In these more severe cases, the first surgery will be needed to remove the old prosthesis scar tissue and treat the joint with antibiotics for the infection. When the hip is cured of infection, surgery is performed to provide a new prosthetic.

The use of artificial hip implants is really effective in improving hip joints that are damaged by injury or some form of arthritis. However, artificial joints, including hip joints, do not last forever. The typical life of an artificial hip joint is 10 to 15 years, depending on the patient’s daily use of the joint, experts say.

Bleeding, infection, and trauma to nerves or blood vessels are  possible with any surgical procedure. The risk of these complications is higher than primary procedures. As collated by medical professionals, other possible health complications from a hip revision surgery include:

· Dislocation of hip revision implants.

· Occurrence of heart and lung complications, or stroke conditions

· Position problems or loosening of the new components is possible.

· Development of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or blood clots in the legs or lungs.

· Migration of revision implants due to poor bone quality or inadequate fixation.

The decision to perform revision joint surgery is made when the benefits of pain relief and functional improvement outweigh the risk of these potential complications. In the case of Johnson & Johnson, the DePuy hip recall was implemented in August 2010 due to safety issues of the device. The company is currently facing various hip replacement lawsuit and class action lawsuits filed by affected patients.

References:

· my.clevelandclinic.org/services/hip_revision/or_overview.aspx

· orthopedics.about.com/od/hipkneereplacement/a/revisionhip.htm

· evertsmith.com/treatment/hip-revision/

Avoiding Heavy Metal Poisoning

Increasing concern about heavy metals arose partly due to DePuy hip replacement devices, notably the metal-on-metal hip acetebular prostheses, which was said to cause heavy metal toxicity. Unfortunately, we encounter heavy metals unknowingly everyday. The heavy metals which can be found at home, school and our environment that can cause heavy metal poisoning are mercury, lead, aluminum, antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, silver, zinc. Some heavy metals are even utilized by our bodies to maintain the balance needed to keep our physique well-functioning and healthy. Such "essential" heavy metals are zinc, copper, chromium, iron and manganese but note that we only need minimum amount of these. However, heavy metal toxicity results if there is an abnormal accumulation of any of the above mentioned heavy metals. Thus, it is necessary to know the ways to avoid heavy metal poisoning.

Occupational hazard is the most common cause of heavy metal poisoning and there are ways we can use to prevent complications from too much contact with these heavy metals during work. Several precautionary methods employed by workers in the industry and factories are protective clothing such as protective masks, specially-made suits, thick and impenetrable gloves, boots, and thick-glass goggles. Respirators, emergency equipment, and medications or substances used to normalize the abnormal levels of the harmful heavy metals like those in chelation therapy should be ready at hand in case someone is observed to have the signs and symptoms of metallosis.

Brain fogging; persistent pain of one or more of the following body parts: the muscles, soft tissues, tendons, and/or joints; problems associated with the gastrointestinal system such as diarrhea, constipation, flatulence and nausea; unusual changes in the mood and affect; recurrent infections; headaches; dizziness; and problems in the nervous system are some of the drastic side effects of heavy metal toxicity. The heavy metals found to be the prevalent cause of heavy metal toxicity are mercury, lead, aluminum, antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, silver, zinc and tin. When there is heavy metal poisoning, detoxifying emergency interventions must be immediately implemented since this could lead to grave conditions which could ultimately lead to death if left untreated. Bring the patient to the emergency unit of the nearest hospital in order to apprehend complications from toxic levels of heavy metals. For initial heavy metal poisoning managements, you can the consult poison control lines.

In cases where complications from hip replacement surgery using faulty DePuy ASR hip products were experienced, there was an issuance of a hip replacement recall. If you are interested to learn more about the updates about this case, you can visit related sites available.

DePuy Warned of Faulty Hip Replacements but Took No Action

The common claim in the majority of the DePuy lawsuits stemming from the recent DePuy hip replacement recall is that the company was negligent in both the designing and testing of its products. This contributed to the injuries among the recipients of these defective devices. Recipients are also claiming that DePuy knew its hip replacements were defective, but failed to warn the public in an appropriate amount of time. If the company had acted promptly, it could have prevented injuries in thousands of people. It is this claim that has a very strong chance of winning in a court of law.

In 2003, the ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System first entered the market. DePuy and its parent company, Johnson & Johnson, was first aware of the growing number of complaints regarding these devices beginning in 2005 from both recipients and surgeons describing pain, swelling, eroded and broken bones, failed implants, and metallosis. The company did not take any action.

The defective implants were detected immediately by Australia and the United Kingdom due to their regulatory artificial joint registries. The National Joint Replacement Registry in Australia reported higher than normal failure rates of the DePuy hip replacements as early as 2007. DePuy then voluntarily withdrew its products from their market by 2009. Similarly, the National Joint Registry of England and Wales was also effective in the early discovery of defective hip replacements. At the same time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received several hundred complaints about the metal-on-metal device, but without a national registry to regulate these defective implants, no action was taken. With increasing pressure from the public and the FDA, DePuy finally initiated a recall in August of 2010.

The most recent studies have claimed that the failure rates in these defective devices are worse than originally indicated. Two major orthopedic organizations in the United Kingdom are now stating that out of the 93,000 patients that have received DePuy hip replacements, half of these implants will fail after only 6 years.

DePuy was aware of its defective implants, but continued to market and distribute them regardless. Patients that have received defective hip replacements and want proper compensation for their injuries should contact an experienced attorney. For more information regarding ongoing litigation, visit the DePuy hip recall website for details.

Different DePuy Recall Is Predicted To Occur

Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, DePuy Orthopaedics manufactured the ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System-- both of which are hip replacement devices that was recently recalled in August 2010. Twelve to thirteen percent of the 93,000 recipients are approximated to have been affected by the recall. This means that about 11,000 patients need to undergo a risky and expensive second hip replacement procedure or what is called a revision surgery. Some symptoms associated with the defective devices are pain, swelling, dislocation, difficulty walking and even the more severe metallosis. Orthopedists even report that nerve damage is one of the complications recipients undergo. Presently, hundreds of DePuy lawsuits have already been filed and experts believe this number could reach thousands.

DePuy's problems seem to only get much worse. It was found out that another line of hip replacement device, called the Pinnacle Solution (also known as the Pinnacle Acetabular Cup System), has similar issues with the ASR devices. There were at least 500 Pinnacle-related complaints that were noted by the United States Food and Drugs Administration. These complaints report of basically the same complications as the ASRs inflict among recipients. As of present time, individuals who have received this type of hip replacement already filed for DePuy Pinnacle lawsuits.

It has not yet been revealed just how many Pinnacle devices were implanted and how many are affected by its flaws. Another recall may be in the works given the company's oversight in manufacturing secure and durable orthopedic devices. One of the responsibilities of companies such as DePuy is that they offer the public a product that is safe for public use. To compensate for losses DePuy recipients are made to go through, filing a hip recall lawsuit is highly recommended.

To learn more on the ongoing DePuy litigation and get some updates, you can visit the hip replacement recall information center.