Product News and Recalls

Woman’s case a bellwether for faulty hip implants

The Rochester Business Journal out of New York says an area woman’s lawsuit is one of two bellwether cases that will affect the outcome of thousands of claims concerning DePuy Orthopaedics hip implants.

Local businesswoman Ann McCracken, 57, had an all-metal hip joint implanted in 2009. According to the story, it was “marketed as particularly appropriate for younger, more active candidates.”

DePuy, a division of Johnson & Johnson, recalled the implants in 2010. The company advised surgeons who had implanted the devices that they should warn patients of possible ill effects, including permanent tissue damage.

Problems with the implants included a tendency to break down after only a few years, and to shed toxic metal debris in patients’ bodies.

According to the story, McCracken underwent a second surgery in early 2011 but suffered two subsequent hip dislocations. Her attorneys said a third surgery last year left her with permanently impaired range of motion, and she will likely to need future surgeries.

The article quotes one of her attorneys as saying: “The court could not have selected a more deserving or severely impacted plaintiff than Ann McCracken as one of two lead trial cases in this national litigation.”

If you’ve received a metal-on-metal hip implant, you should consult with a doctor if you have any ongoing symptoms or health concerns. If you have significant injuries, you should also consult with a lawyer familiar with the devices to discuss your legal rights.

See the story here:

https://www.rbj.net/article.asp?aID=193659