DePuy Hip Recall Recipients To Undergo Certain Medical Tests
Plaintiffs numbering in the hundreds have filed DePuy lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, DePuy Orthopaedics, as more health problems are surfacing. An orthopedist will likely need to be consulted regarding hip recall patients’ health status. To determine the brand of your hip replacement device, you could consult with your orthopedist or even the hospital where the surgery took place. In eight cases, one patient is necessitated to undergo a corrective or revision surgery to decrease or eliminate health complications. Not all cases are the same, however. To know more about the current status of your health, you may need to go through several more testings.
Your doctor would likely have some recommended medical procedures he thinks you should take. The website of the orthopedic company have stated that patients should, “…return to the surgeon’s office for a follow up visit including clinical assessment and radiographic evaluation…blood testing for cobalt and chromium ion levels…and/or a MARS MRI or ultrasound if necessary.” Pain and difficulty walking were reported to have been suffered by ASR hip recipients as a flaw in its design caused metal ions to scratch off from its components and depositing toxic levels of cobalt and chromium in the body system.
One or more of these tests might be needed for the patients to take:
Blood Test. The blood test will asses the level of cobalt and chromium you have present in your system. To have concentrations of these substances found to be greater than 7 parts per billion is said to be dangerous wnough for you to have to take another blood test in three months.
MARS MRI and/or ultrasound. It would be essential for you to undergo a MARS MRI and/or an ultrasound if your second blood test still shows concentrations greater than 7 parts per billion.
Revision surgery. Radiological tests that show significant tissue damage and collected fluid would mean a revision surgery is required.
Annual testing. In instances where cobalt and chromium levels are less than 7 parts per billion, patients might still find themselves in need to be evaluated every year as per their doctor’s instructions.
Each recipient’s case vary. While some may experience agonizing pain, others may not feel anything at all. Having no pain does not always mean that you have not been affected by the defective implants though. It would be best to discuss your health status with your orhtopedist so that you would be aware of what to expect henceforth.
It is understandable to be concerned about your health in the wake of the DePuy hip recall. And what is understandable still is wanting DePuy to provide you with compensation you deserve. It is definitely your right to file a DePuy hip replacement lawsuit for you to be recompensed of your losses.