DePuy Hip Replacement Recall

As the court case moves forward on the DePuy hip replacement recall, much discussion is taking place on what has caused the cobalt and chromium hip replacement problems. Some experts say the cause is wear from the metal ball rubbing against the metal cup causing particles to exist around the Depuy ASR hip. And the ASR problem doesn’t stop there: The metal particles can accumulate in a patient’s bloodstream and attack their muscle tissue, eating the muscle from the inside out causing severe pain and damage to the surrounding tissue.

Surgeons perform hip replacement surgery if pain is severe and the disability cannot be managed by other treatments. More people are affected by the DePuy hip replacement recall because hip replacements are being done on younger people now. The Associated Press recently reported that baby boomers are sparking demand for knee and hip replacements by tripling surgeries in the 45-to-64 age-group. Even famous stars have experienced both good and bad hip replacements. Here are some examples:
Steve Perry: When Journey reunited in 1996 to record Trial by Fire and prepare for their world tour, Perry suffered an injured hip while hiking in Hawaii and could not perform. Perry was diagnosed with a degenerative bone condition and a hip replacement would be required. Reluctant to rush into surgery, Perry postponed the tour.

Nearly 17 months after the injury, the group members gave Perry an ultimatum that he had to undergo hip replacement surgery, so the tour could proceed or another singer would be hired. Perry, still hesitant about surgery decided to part ways with Journey. Later he had a successful hip replacement surgery that corrected the injured hip.
Evel Knivel: The Guinness world record winner for the most broken bones needed a hip replacement. Humorously, the injured hip did not come after some high-risk adventure, but when he played a mild round of golf.
Luciano Pavarotti: The late opera singer, Pavarotti suffered from hip pain since he was 12 years old because of a football injury. At 63, he underwent hip replacement surgery because pain became too severe to manage. After surgery, he followed a diet and exercise regime and managed to lose 50 lbs. of weight.

Billy Joel: One of the most celebrated songwriters and musicians in the 70s-90s, Joel underwent a bilateral hip replacement surgery in 2010 to correct a congenital condition that was impacting his quality of life. Within weeks of the procedure he was back on stage playing with Elton John.

Jack Nicklaus: Golf legend with over 100 worldwide titles to his name had an injured hip in 1963. With multiple cortisone injections, he developed osteoarthritis. Experiencing bone-on-bone wear for about seven years, he opted for a ceramic-on-ceramic implant in 1999, and became an advocate for hip replacement surgery.
Elizabeth Taylor: Highly publicized actress underwent two hip replacements that left one leg shorter. While not having to deal with the DePuy hip replacement recall, she was forced to undergo a third operation to correct the problem. Beyond injured hips, Taylor underwent 100 surgical procedures in her life on the quest to stay young and beautiful.

Uncertainty with DePuy Hip Replacements Still Exist


As younger baby boomers opt for more hip replacements to stay active, no one really knows how well these implants will perform. Most studies have been done on older folks whose expectations were to be able to go watch a grandchild's soccer game—not play sports themselves or run marathons. How long a person lives and how much strain they put on their hip replacement will determine whether additional surgeries will be required. Design flaws such as the case with the DePuy hip replacement recall complicates the matter even further.

If you have suffered problems tied to the DePuy hip replacement recall, contact Seeger Weiss today. We are actively involved in the DePuy lawsuit and can properly advise you or your loved one.

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