MRIs are encouraged to detect premature implant failure, which can place an unfair financial burden on patients
WASHINGTON, March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The US Drug Watchdog is on a mission to make certain none of the half a million US citizens who have a all metal hip implant that has prematurely failed get stuck with the tab for replacement surgery, or other associated medical costs, so they are now urging all recipients to get an MRI test to focus in on tissue inflammation in the area of the all metal hip implant stem, or cup. For more information recipients of an all metal hip implant are urged to contact the US Drug Watchdog anytime at 866-714-6466. http://USDrugWatchdog.Com
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140327/PH91332-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140327/PH91332-b )
So why is the US Drug Watchdog so focused on recipients of a all metal hip implant getting a MRI to test for a premature failure? 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, according to a new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery. The study, which appears in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, demonstrates that MRI can be used to identify implants that are going to fail before people become symptomatic." http://USDrugWatchdog.Com
Updates on litigation involving all 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 Email, 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 all 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 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