21 March 2011
Leigh Day & Co solicitors has now been instructed by over 70 patients from the North East who have had metal on metal hip components implanted that have failed early. Nearly 45% of these patients are from the Tees area - 24 patients have contacted us about the ASR hip component and 10 about the Pinnacle cup system.
The British Hip Society Annual Conference held this month presented results showing extremely high early failures rates for metal on metal hip components. These ranged from 21% revision at four years to 49% at six years for ASR total hip replacements. They also identified that other metal on metal hip components such as the Pinnacle Cup hip system and Corin Cormet 2000 system had also had an unacceptably high revision rates of 12-15% at five years.
DePuy ASR hip component
Patients who have had a DePuy ASR component fitted have been recalled by their treating hospitals for review. Patients with other metal-bearing hip replacements should also be followed up regularly for five years post hip replacement operation and probably for the life of the prosthesis.
Sylvia Docherty, 63 has lived in North Tees all her life received a DePuy ASR hip replacement. She said:
"I was active in my fifties, with an energetic job and four grandchildren to keep me busy. When I began to develop pain and found myself unable to walk I was very upset but felt reassured that I would be given a 'state-of-the-art' hip that would last a lot longer than conventional hips. I looked forward to my mobility returning to normal. However, when I began to get 'clunking' and could feel the bone grinding and crumbling I was shocked. There were times when I had to use a walking stick. Long walks with the family came to an end and I was forced to take early retirement. When my hip had to be revised last year, I was told that such revisions involved 'double the recovery time and double the pain'. It also left me with one leg shorter than the other and the possibility of even more surgery in the future. I thought I was going for a routine hip operation. The complications have meant that every bit of my life has been changed. I still have doubts whether I will ever be right again."
In response to the increasing number of enquiries from the Stockton upon Tees area, Leigh Day & Co has decided to hold a free advice session for patients who may wish to discuss bringing a compensation claim against the manufacturer of their hip component on the 29 March at The Norton Education Centre, Junction Road, Norton, TS20 1PR. Patients wishing to make a specific appointment should contact us on 020 7650 1311.
Information was correct at time of publishing. See terms and conditions for further details.
Information was correct at time of publishing. See terms and conditions for further details.