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

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.