Home preparation prior to hip surgery 

As part of our ongoing commitment to keeping the public abreast of important legal and medical information, Weitz & Luxenberg offers these pages, which are updated frequently with the latest available information.  If you have experienced complications following hip replacement surgery, and would like to know what legal avenue to pursue, please contact Weitz & Luxenberg.

Lifestyle modifications are necessary

It may be difficult to stomach, but if you want to recovery quickly, your medical professional will instruct you to make certain modifications to your daily routine. For example, if you engaged in highly rigorous physical activities, it is improbable that you will be able to partake in those activities immediately after hip surgery. The length of recovery varies from person to person, but irrespective of your age or the reason for your surgery, you will need to give your body plenty of time to mend itself and become accustomed to the artificial implant(s). In addition to modifying your daily activities, your medical professional will likely advise you to make necessary alterations at home to minimize the chances of accidents or other complications that could hinder the healing process.

Your medical professional will instruct variations of the following:

• A few days before surgery, ask a friend or someone you care about to assist you with grocery shopping, so that you will have food in the house when you return from the hospital.
• Remove small rugs to prevent tripping on their edges.
• Place a mat in the bathtub with suction cups to prevent slipping.
• Rearrange all furniture so that you can have unimpeded access to areas of your home you will visit often (such as the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom).
• Place all necessary items within easy reach, to avoid having to stretch, bend or otherwise overexert yourself.
•  “If your bed is lower than your knees, you may need to raise it for safer access after hip surgery.” (CPMC)
• If you live in an apartment building, take the elevator if there is one available. If you absolutely must use the stairs, be sure to hold onto the railing and ascend each step slowly.

The DePuy Hip Implant Recall:

On August 26^th, 2010, owing to a high volume of complications and complaints experienced by patients across the United States, as well as other parts of the world, Depuy Orthopaedics officially recalled two of their hip devices:

ASR XL Acetabular System:  Used in traditional hip replacement

ASR Hip Resurfacing System:  Used in partial hips replacement.  This involves fitting a metal cap over the femoral head to give it more support.

DePuy has come under fire primarily because both of the above systems were defectively designed. These design defects resulted in several complications, including implant loosening and displacement, owing to a poorly fitted implant. When the implant does not fit securely into the acetabulum (the part of the pelvic girdle that fits with the femoral head), surrounding tissue and nerves become damaged owing to the high levels of metal ions in the DePuy implants.

Unfortunately, the only remedy for this problem is revision surgery. Following the recall, DePuy estimated that as many 10,000 patients will require corrective surgery. However, it is probable that the number of those requiring additional hip surgery might actually be much higher.

Questions or concerns about the Depuy hip recall? Contact Weitz and Luxenberg

Our firm has over two decades of experience handling many different types of litigation and we will fight to get you compensation if you have suffered from a defective DePuy hip implant. Contact us today.

Acknowledgements:

California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) - http://www.cpmc.org/learning/documents/rg-thr-prepare.html#Prepare%20Your%20Home%20Before%20Surgery

DePuy: http://www.depuy.com/asr-hip-replacement-recall

National Association of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS):  http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Hip_Replacement/#6

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