The metal-on-metal artificial hips such as the recalled DePuy ASR hip replacement systems may lead to severe pain, difficulty walking, tissue inflammation, and joint damage. Metallosis, commonly known as metal poisoning, may result as an adverse consequence of wear and tear of the metal-on-metal hip replacement.
The metal-on-metal hip has lead to cases where the grinding metal releases small particles of metal into the body. This can eventually lead to bone loss and necessitate the painful and arduous process of a revision surgery where the defective DePuy hip is replaced and a new hip inserted. These types of revision surgeries are far more complicated than the original hip replacement because the metal-on-metal hip parts have caused damage to the surrounding tissue and bone.
When DePuy, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson first announced that it was halting sales of its DePuy ASR hip, the company said it was due to declining sales. Months later, investigations have determined that numerous complaints about the hip have surfaced. It’s estimated that close to 13% of the DePuy hips have failed, some of which have had to be replaced.
Special blood tests may be performed to determine the level of metallic components such as cobalt and chromium in the blood stream. Certain levels of such metals in the blood may lead to metallosis which in turn can lead to aseptic fibrosis, local necrosis (bone death), and increase the chances of further hip replacement surgery.