By Independent Staff Writer
Several news sources, among them the New York Times,
have already commented on the mounting data that more women than men
are reporting problems with the ASR XL Acetabular System. We'd like to
explain exactly why that is.
Problem: Hip Implant Not Designed Ideally for Wider Hip Sockets
Women,
as you may have heard, are structured differently anatomically than
men. The differences aren't merely on the surface, however; they extend
into the skeletal structure and particularly in the pelvis region. Women
have wider hips with bigger hip sockets to accommodate the process of
giving birth, which means they often have more problems in hip implant
surgery because those large hip sockets allow the implant to dislocate
more easily.
In the DePuy ASR XL
Acetabular System, however, the problems go beyond the norm. One of the
reasons is that the hip implant was designed to be extremely shallow,
exacerbating the problems women already have with hip implants.
Problem: Women More Likely to Require Hip Implants
Women are more prone to osteopenia, osteoporosis,
and often have weaker bones overall than men, particularly as they age.
The onset of menopause, and the subsequent drop in estrogen, have been
linked to rapid bone deterioration. Because of all of these factors, women are more likely than men overall to require a hip implant because of a hip fracture.
Problem: Small, Shallow Hip Implant
The
DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System was designed to give patients a greater
range of motion. If you'll recall, the design of the hip implant
included two parts: an implant inserted into the femur bone with a
rounded top that fit into a cup placed in the hip bone.
In
the design of the ASR XL Acetabular System, the cup was made very
shallow, which meant that the patient could move their leg in a wider
arc before the other part of the implant might dislocate.
Good in theory. And if DePuy had tested their product properly, it might have worked quite well. In real life, it went a little differently.
The
shallow hip implants meant that all of the friction caused by everyday
movement was focused on a much smaller area. There was more force on a
smaller amount of material. The hip implant was under more stress and
was more prone to the friction that caused small metal ions to break off
into the bloodstream. It was also more likely to break altogether.
Especially
in women. Their smaller, shallower hip implants meant there was even
more strain on the material. Women who have an ASR XL Acetabular System
are reporting problems in greater numbers than men in part because their
hip implants are simply breaking down faster. They have the same
problems, forced upon a smaller area.
Our
consulting doctor offered some sobering statistics for smaller hip
implants in general: the risk of a hip revision surgery for a hip
implant with a head size of 44 mm is five times that of a hip implant with a head size of 55 mm.
Problem: Bone Deterioration Exacerbated in Women's Hip Implants
Because
women are more prone to bone deterioration in general and have less
bone density than men, the problems caused by the ASR XL Acetabular
System are multiplied. We've explained the problem of bone deterioration
at length, but here's the issue in a nutshell:
For
a non-cemented hip implant like the ASR XL Acetabular System to work
properly, the surrounding hip bone needs to be healthy and growing.
DePuy's hip implant design caused an inordinate number of metal ions to
be released into the bloodstream, causing problems with metallosis, heavy metal poisoning, and metal sensitivity - all of which adversely affect the bone.
One
reason why women may be reporting problems with their hip implants
sooner than men is because they have less bone to sacrifice to the
effects of the metal ions floating in their bloodstream. The symptoms
become painful more quickly, and more women are going to their doctor
with concerns about the hip implant.
Handicapped
with less dense, weaker bones, women now face the additional problem of
attempting a hip revision with severely damaged hip bones from the
previous DePuy hip implant.
It is
already more difficult for a woman to have a successful hip replacement
surgery than a man. DePuy's ASR XL Acetabular System made it even more
difficult - not to say dangerous.
If
you have any questions about your hip replacement surgery or your
options moving forward, we'd like to help. Give us a call at
800-730-7607 or fill out our online form
and we'll explain your legal options and try to answer any of your
questions about the DePuy hip implant and how it's affecting your
health.
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