The first of many hearings on the DePuy ASR XL hip implants lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson was held in Durham, North Carolina on November 18, 2010.
The U.S. Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation, JPML, heard arguments from defense lawyers for Johnson and Johnson and the plaintiffs attorneys for the affected and injured consumers.
This hearing will determine where the lawsuits should be coordinated for pretrial management, and which judge should be assigned to handle the cases.
The most significant health risk from the metallic hip is the exposure to patients of high levels of chromium and cobalt metal debris from the implants. The faulty and defective design of the ASR XL prosthetic hip leads to excessive pressure on the edges of the cup, causing extensive wear and tear and this leads to the release of ionic metal debris into the patients hip.
According to the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Metallosis is usually defined as aseptic fibrosis, local necrosis, or loosening of a device secondary to metallic corrosion and release of wear debris.
Chromium and cobalt are natural trace elements which the body requires for healthy function. The chromium and cobalt ions released by the DePuy ASR metal on metal grinding joint, are toxic to the tissues in the hip.
Chromium and cobalt exposures in industrial settings have been demonstrated by medical studies, and that these metals are highly toxic to the liver, kidneys, and brain tissue.
Information and commentary is provided by Dallas and Fort Worth DePuy ASR Hip Recall Attorney Shezad Malik. The Dr Shezad Malik Law Firm can be reached in Dallas at 214-390-3189. If you have questions about a DePuy ASR Hip Recall, please fill out our contact online for a free consultation.