Wednesday, June 6, 2012

DePuy Hip Implants: A Discussion on ALVAL and Metallosis

The 2010 national recall of the Depuy ASR Hip Replacement system was triggered by the high rate of premature failure of these implants in a notable number of patients. These patients had to have revision surgeries only a few years after what should have typically been a 15-year life span of these implants. Furthermore, it has also been revealed that hundreds of patients with ASR implants have suffered painful complications and in some cases even more serious medical impacts. In particular, the release of metallic debris into patients’ bodies as the result of the metal on metal components wearing against each other was the most serious of these complications, and is discussed in more detail below:

ALVAL – (aseptic lymphocyte dominated vasculities associated lesion) is a medical reaction triggered by a soft tissue reaction in the body causing pain and inflammation and, where present, has affected some patients with metal-on-metal implants such as the Depuy ASR Hip Replacement.

Metallosis, another known complication linked to the Depuy implants, is a medical condition resulting from a build-up of metallic debris in the surrounding soft tissue of the body. It has been reported that metallosis can occur in patients with metal transplants and that these metal particles have been strongly linked to tissue damage, tumours, including pseudo-tumours (an accumulated mass of inflamed tissue formed as a reaction to an irritant), high metal ion blood counts and metal blood poisoning.

ALVAL and metallosis, when present in patients who had received metal-on-metal hip replacements are thought to be caused by incorrect placement of certain hip components in the patient, causing additional wear on these components. The hip resurfacing device functions as a metal bearing made of high carbon, cobalt and chromium alloys. If a patient is fitted with one of these implants, and the components are not aligned properly, then this misalignment of the bearing results in much more wear in that area, potentially causing a high-metal ion level as the debris and particles (generated from the friction and wear of the metal components against one another) are released into the patient’s bloodstream.

More serious implications and risks have also resulted from metal on metal hip replacement systems. A recent study by researchers at the University of Bristol has linked faulty metal-on-metal hip replacement systems to possible kidney and bladder cancers. The findings suggest that the metal shavings or debris made up of cobalt and chromium that are absorbed into the bloodstream can cause changes to cells that could be precursors to cancer in 20 percent of patients. In addition, the metal particles distributed into the bloodstream (in some cases) have been linked to chromosomal abnormalities (neurological reactions) as well.

Author: Sullo & Sullo Attorneys

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