US Drug Watchdog Urges Recipients Of All-Metal Hip Implants To Receive an MRI To Determine If Implant Has Prematurely Failed

WASHINGTON, March 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The US Drug Watchdog is urging recipients of an all metal hip implant to get a MRI examination to see if there are indication's this type of artificial hip has begun to fail, because the time to get compensated for a premature failure could come, and go for most recipients, and in the end the group fears most recipients will not get compensated. For more information recipients of an all metal hip implant are encouraged to contact to US Drug Watchdog anytime at 866-714-6466. http://USDrugWatchdog.Com

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The US Drug Watchdog says, "According to a March 2014 in the publication called Regulatory Focus, Metal-on-metal hip implants have been plagued with controversy around the globe. The devices, which claimed to be similar enough to predicate devices made with non-metal parts, have since been associated with high revision rates and the generation of metal (often chromium) shavings that have damaged the tissue of some patients. Most manufacturers have recalled the products from the market in the US, while influential researchers have called for the devices to be banned." For more information recipients of an all metal hip implant are encouraged to contact the US Drug Watchdog at 866-714-6466. http://USDrugWatchdog.Com

According to the New York Times on December 27th 2011, "There are 500,000 US citizens who have an all metal hip implant. According to Science Daily on May 15th 2013, "Metal-on-metal hip implants can cause inflammation of the joint lining (synovitis) long before symptoms appear, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to identify this inflammation."

The US Drug Watchdog believes most recipients of an all metal hip implant are unaware of some of the problems associated with all metal hip implants, and they fear many recipients will not complain about a defective all metal hip implant because they do not want to go through a surgery designed to replace a defective hip implant. This type of surgery is also called revision surgery.  http://USDrugWatchdog.Com

The US Drug Watchdog says, "The MRI procedure focused on tissue damage may be a huge breakthrough for recipients, and we are strongly encouraging all US recipients of an all-metal hip implant to schedule an MRI test if for no other reason than the peace of mind in knowing whether or not the implant has failed." For more information metal on metal hip implant recipients are encouraged to call the US Drug Watchdog at 866-714-6466.

Updates on litigation involving metal on metal hip implants manufactures that are being sued for premature failures from the US Drug Watchdog: 

• DePuy Pinnacle Case Number U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas MDL#2244  
• Stryker Rejuvenate Modular &ABG II-recalled June 2012. 
• Biomet M2a Magnum Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. (Case No. 3:12-cv-3476) filed on July 2nd 2012. The US Drug Watchdog says, "For some recipients of the Biomet M2A, and M2 Magnum there may be a looming statute of limitations issue of April 15th 2014 to get identified by the court if your hip implant has failed. Please call us for more information."  
• Wright Medical Technology, Inc., Conserve Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation ("MDL No. 2329"). This is now pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

The US Drug Watchdog says, "If you have a friend, or loved one who is a recipient of a metal-on metal hip implant that has already failed, or is showing symptoms of a failure, or if a recipient is concerned about a premature failure, please call us anytime at 866-714-6466. We want to make certain all metal-on-metal hip implant recipients get meaningful help, and assistance." http://USDrugWatchdog.com

For attribution purposes please refer to the March 2014 article about metal on metal hip implants from Regulatory Focus: https://www.raps.org/focus-online/news/news-article-view/article/4772/european-commission-report-calls-for-restricted-use-of-metal-on-metal-hip-impla.aspx

For more information about a MRI and tissue inflammation with a metal on metal hip implant we have attached a link to the May 15th 2013 Science Daily news article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130515151436.htm

For attribution about the number of all metal hips in the US please refer to the December 27th 2011 article in the New York Times: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/27/ask-about-hip-replacement/

Media Contact: 
M. Thomas Martin, 866-714-6466

Read more news from the US Drug Watchdog.

SOURCE US Drug Watchdog