One of the best options in handling hip fracture is a total hip replacement, especially when the patient is able to cope with the conditions of this procedure. Hip fracture is a common problem. Risks and complications are always present in surgeries, as were raised in allegations on defective medical products such as the Stryker hip implants. A more comprehensive discussion about the recall of the Stryker Rejuvenate Modular devices has been posted on a website.

Even before the Stryker hip recall in July 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already received various negative feedbacks about the hip devices. Meanwhile, the Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is calling for a decision for patients be provided lifetime hip replacement checkups, as reported by the Reuters.

In managing hip injuries, total hip replacement is one of the best choices, medical specialists say. Since most of the surgery patients are aged 65 years old and up, the search for less invasive procedures is on. The process done to remove the bad hip part and to be replaced with a new device is called hip replacement surgery. To relieve the individual from pain and resume or improve the function of the hips remains the main goal of surgery.

The procedure’s prognosis is good; however it is startling that there might be problems caused by faulty devices. A good example are the negative claims on Stryker metal-on-metal products. As a matter of fact, a growing number of people have been filing a lawsuit. They seek for compensation from all the distress they experience brought by the device.

Some patients say that they experienced mobility difficulties and other movements that involve pressure on the hips due to the premature loosening of the device. Furthermore, metal toxicity has been related with the device due to the possibility of metal bits entering the bloodstream of the patient.

Included in the symptoms of a faulty hip product are pain bearing weight, pain when rising from a seated position, swelling, pain while walking, pain on the hip area, and pain on the thigh or groin area.

Among the health risks allegedly caused by flawed hip devices are cancer due to the presence of chromium and cobalt in the blood, unexplained hip pain, hip dislocation, metal toxicity (metallosis), loosening of hip device, additional hip replacement surgery, detachment of hip device from the bone, pseudotumors, genetic damage (genotoxicty), bone fractures, bone loss, and tissue damages.

Affected patients may visit a legal expert for a more comprehensive discussion about the recalled devices and potential filing of lawsuit against the company. Legal sources say that several clients have initiated court actions against the company.

References:
• businessweek.com/news/2011-05-03/medical-groups-tracking-hip-knee-implants-after-j-j-recall.html
• usrecallnews.com/2010/09/depuy-hip-replacement-recalled-asr-artificial-hip-systems.html
• nytimes.com/2010/08/27/business/27hip.html