METAL HIP RECALL

Thousands of patients affected by a worldwide recall of a metal hip replacement implant could receive millions of pounds in compensation as legal claims are filed across the UK.

Last year, international orthopaedics company DePuy was forced to recall two of its metal hip replacement systems, after discovering a failure rate in one in every eight patients.

The programme will focus on metal implants and the serious affects they are having on patients. The programme will uncover a potential risk to a large number of patients who have received metal implants.

More than 20,000 people across the UK are thought to have been affected.

In the worst cases the implants, made of metal alone rather than traditional metal and plastic, are leaving patients in constant pain and susceptible to nerve, muscle and bone damage.  Unfortunately in cases were there has been extensive tissue damage the revision outcomes are often poor even after replacement with a non-metal device according to a report prepared by the Expert Advisory Group in October 2010.

Liverpool Solicitor Lisa Lunt from Gregory Abrams Davidson is regarded as an expert in dealing with the legal issues surrounding these complex matters and has been instructed by hundreds of patients throughout the UK since the recall was announced including Norman Sherrington aged 67 from South Liverpool. Once a keen cyclist he is now reduced to walking aids. Mr Sherrington says "I have been in constant pain since 2006 following my left total hip replacement.  It has drastically affected my life.   I cannot walk up the stairs properly and I struggle getting in and out of the bath.  I was a keen sportsman but I can no longer cycle or swim.  I cannot do the things I enjoy.  My quality of life has been severely affected.  I do not know what it is like to be pain free".

Leading Surgeons say patients in some parts of England have spent months waiting in pain because of delayed operations or new restrictions on who qualifies for treatment.

The British Hip Society and the British Orthopaedic Association released a joint report in March 2011 predicting as many as half of all systems installed could fail within six years. The findings were described as "alarming".

Initially hailed as state-of-the-art technology, the systems have been failing after just a few years, when they were expected to last for 15 years or more. Studies have discovered that a major problem is due to the metal surfaces of the implant wearing away, releasing particles that are absorbed into the blood causing secondary health problems.

The new report from the BHS and BOA advises: "All patients with these components should be identified and should be informed that they have a hip replacement device that has been withdrawn, and that they are now under the umbrella of close clinical follow up and surveillance.

Some form of follow up should be performed at least annually and patients should be given contact information so that they can be reviewed quickly should they have worsening pain or deteriorating clinical function associated with the hip implant. Follow up should continue for the life of the implant, until more data is available."

DePuy is facing a potential multi-million pound payout to patients in the UK as more people come forward. It is estimated it could cost the company as much as £350m, or more, to compensate successful claimants for their pain and suffering, loss of earnings, and further medical care, among other costs.

Mrs Lunt and one of her clients, Mr Sherrington recently appeared on ITV news.  She says "Since appearing on television we have received hundreds of calls from worried patients across the UK.  Some patients have received information about the recall from their surgeons, others are none the wiser.  It has been a relief for some of my clients to discover a real reason for the cause of their pain which has previously been dismissed by clinicians and to know that there is hope that something positive can be done to try and relieve some or all of that pain in the form of revision operations,"

Gregory Abrams Davidson Solicitors are planning a conference with their clients in order to provide them with a legal update. One of the UK’s top leading hip experts will be on hand to provide a medical update and to answer questions.  Anyone with any concerns can contact Gregory Abrams Davidson on 0151 236 5000 by email info@gadllp.co.uk or free phone 24 hours 0500 58 58 58.