Product News and Recalls

FDA schedules panel for hip implant review

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced an official review of all-metal hip implants, in response to growing concerns about their reported early failure rates.

According to a Reuters report, the FDA has scheduled an advisory panel for June 27 and 28, which will gather input from scientists, researchers, patients and medical practitioners. Panel members will examine the question of whether medical devices should be subject to new testing standards and review requirements before going on the market in the U.S.

The FDA is concerned about reports of early failure rates from the devices. The report mentions a recent study from the National Joint Registry of England and Wales, indicating that about 6 percent of people with all-metal implants needed additional surgery to replace or repair them after five years, compared with 1.7 to 2.3 percent of people who had ceramic or plastic systems.

The report also mentions that patients who receive the all-metal implants have been shown to have high concentrations of metal ions in their blood from debris breaking off and getting into the soft tissues.

DePuy/Johnson & Johnson are now offering compensation in the form of covering medical expenses, which is nowhere near what an injured patient deserves. Physicians are being told to refer their patients to DePuy’s claims settlement company, Broadspire. Please know that these “settlements” do not cover all potential damages, and especially do not cover future injuries that might arise. You may be unknowingly signing your rights away by agreeing to settle for past medical expenses only.

Contact Lopez McHugh for a free case evaluation if you received a DePuy Orthopaedics hip implant and experienced complications.

See the report here: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/health/fda-plans-a-new-review-of-metal-on-metal-hip-implants.html#h[]