Member Article

Call for hip-implant patients to seek medical checks

A lawyer who specialises in medical negligence is recommending that metal on metal (MoM) hip replacement patients, including resurfacing and total hip replacements, seek medical advice and potentially legal support to claim compensation.

Helen Elstob, of Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors, says she is already representing a number of clients who have suffered varying symptoms which were eventually attributed to the hip replacement implant. She said: “Some have suffered symptoms which do not appear to be associated to the hip, whilst others have initially had only minimal discomfort in the hip, which gradually worsened. However, investigations have shown that the implants can cause the release of metal debris into the joints, muscles and blood stream.”

Some metal on metal hip implants were withdrawn in 2007. The implants were made by DePuy, an American division of Johnson and Johnson, and were used in hip resurfacing and total hip replacements between 2003 and 2010. They were withdrawn on 7thSeptember, 2010 because of the high number of patients requiring revision surgery. Anyone with these implants should have received notification from the hospital. However, it is not known if these letters have been received by all relevant patients.

These implants have been shown to cause tiny metal fragments to be released into the joint. The result has been symptoms including pain in the hip, groin or knees, clicking in the hip joint, a general unwell feeling, or headaches and dizziness. This condition is known as ALVAL (aseptic lymphocytic vasculitis- associated lesions).

Ms Elstob recommends that anyone who underwent a hip replacement between 2003 and 2010 should initially contact their doctor for a blood test. Following that, they could be required to undergo ultrasound, aspiration of fluid from the hip and ultimately revision surgery. She commented: “Patients are suffering discomfort, pain and uncertainty because of this. They could be entitled to compensation and should consider consulting both a doctor and a specialist lawyer.”

Furthermore, a recently published study by Bristol University into the failure rates of metal on metal hip resurfacing has found the procedure to have much higher failure rates than full hip replacements. Whilst hip replacements have a two per cent failure rate in five years, hip resurfacing was found to have a five per cent failure rate. However, in women the failure rate was reported to be up to five times greater prompting researchers to recommend that this procedure is never used in women. Helen added: “Thousands of people have had this type of surgery in recent years. If anyone is having any symptoms which they believe could possibly be attributed to the implant, now is the time to speak to a doctor so they can have the relevant tests. We have experience in guiding patients through the process, and are happy to speak with anyone who is considering a claim.”

Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors is the Tees Valley’s largest full service law firm with offices in Hartlepool, Wynyard Park, Stockton on Tees and Barnard Castle. For further information, contact Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors on 0800 052 6824 or visit www.tbilaw.co.uk .

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma Hignett, i2i Business Solutions .