Imagine making the decision to have a hip replacement, going through the pain and expense involved, only to find out one of the product in your new hip is being recalled!
It's happening to thousands of patients around the world, some living here in central Alabama.
Dr. Ken Jaffe is a veteran doctor who's performed many of these surgeries. He says, "The metal on metal has had good results but lately we're seeing osteolysis which is bone destruction around the prosthetic."
Now, a DePuy Johnson and Johnson product is being recalled.
More than 90 thousand patients have the recalled product in their body.
"The company has now sent letters out to the doctor explaining you know we have a problem with this device."
"The company has in its own documents indicated they have higher than expected failure rates at the 3 and 5 year interim," Annesley DeGrais of Cory, Watson, Crowder, & DeGaris says. Hip replacement patients see their doctor within one of year of surgery for a check up and then it moves up to five years, however doctors recommend if you've had this particular product their visits should be more frequent.
"It's really important that patients who have metal on metal do have their routine check up with their physicians so it can be picked up early before catastrophic failure arises," Dr. Jaffe says.
Not all patients who have the product will need another surgery. Consult with your doctor first to see if you are affected by this recall.
