DePuy Hip Recall on Its ASR™ System
The ASR XL Acetabular Hip System and DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System are the two products subject to the DePuy ASR hip recall that was announced on August 26, 2010. We know that something did not go well in the use of these products, but what really is an ASR Hip replacement system and why was it subjected to the hip recall?
The ASR (articular surface replacement) hip replacements are also called the metal-on-metal hip replacement. This is because the two parts of the system that integrate together are both made of any of the following metals; titanium, stainless steel and cobalt chrome, all three are both largely used in many other kinds of surgical operations.
To replicate the human hip, an artificial hip must consist of two primary parts, the ball and the socket. The upper part of the femur or the thigh bone is a round shape piece of bone, this is the ball, and the socket is a cup-shaped cutout in the pelvis within which the femoral head is linked. In this metal-on metal artificial hip joint, the femoral head and the lining of the socket are both made of metal. The femoral head wad designed to glide smoothly inside the cup shaped cutout in the pelvis and to allow a range of motion similar to that of a human's normal hip.
The idea of smooth metal parts gliding together is a brilliant one; however, problems with the metal-on-metal system soon became apparent. The friction caused by two metals gliding together causes metal debris to flake off the artificial joint, which may result to inflammatory responses of some patients, metal ions appearing elsewhere in the body and damage to muscle and other soft tissues.
These problems and others made DePuy Orthopedics Inc. voluntarily announce DePuy ASR hip recall on its ASR metal-on-metal products. And since the company puts first its client's health and safety, they offered to cover reasonable and customary costs on treatments involving the hip recall, so as to not make cost a barrier for the health and safety of the clients. The company is reimbursing reasonable out of pocket expenses associated with the ASR recall. All you need to do is submit your bills for services to your insurance companies or your public or private payor, in the usual manner, then the company will exchange you acceptable costs for the expenses you had related to DePuy ASR hip recall.
The ASR (articular surface replacement) hip replacements are also called the metal-on-metal hip replacement. This is because the two parts of the system that integrate together are both made of any of the following metals; titanium, stainless steel and cobalt chrome, all three are both largely used in many other kinds of surgical operations.
To replicate the human hip, an artificial hip must consist of two primary parts, the ball and the socket. The upper part of the femur or the thigh bone is a round shape piece of bone, this is the ball, and the socket is a cup-shaped cutout in the pelvis within which the femoral head is linked. In this metal-on metal artificial hip joint, the femoral head and the lining of the socket are both made of metal. The femoral head wad designed to glide smoothly inside the cup shaped cutout in the pelvis and to allow a range of motion similar to that of a human's normal hip.
The idea of smooth metal parts gliding together is a brilliant one; however, problems with the metal-on-metal system soon became apparent. The friction caused by two metals gliding together causes metal debris to flake off the artificial joint, which may result to inflammatory responses of some patients, metal ions appearing elsewhere in the body and damage to muscle and other soft tissues.
These problems and others made DePuy Orthopedics Inc. voluntarily announce DePuy ASR hip recall on its ASR metal-on-metal products. And since the company puts first its client's health and safety, they offered to cover reasonable and customary costs on treatments involving the hip recall, so as to not make cost a barrier for the health and safety of the clients. The company is reimbursing reasonable out of pocket expenses associated with the ASR recall. All you need to do is submit your bills for services to your insurance companies or your public or private payor, in the usual manner, then the company will exchange you acceptable costs for the expenses you had related to DePuy ASR hip recall.
