Cobalt Poisoning From a Hip or Knee Replacement Could Drive One to Suicide

DePuy Knee Lawsuit News

Replacement knee and hip joints wear out and produce debris that can enter the bloodstream and make a person very sick

Thursday, March 28, 2019 - One of the focuses of the Netflix documentary, The Bleeding Edge, is the negative health consequences of "cobalt poisoning" that occurs in metal on metal artificial joints manufactured by DePuy Synthesis. DePuy's two best selling medical devices are artificial hips and replacement knee devices. In the documentary, it was revealed to the public that both genres of medical devices consist of cobalt alloys that can have serious, adverse effects when shavings occur and dangerous heavy metals make their way into the patient's bloodstream. American families in the US are reaching out to national DePuy knee replacement attorneys for free consultations and representation for DePuy knee lawsuits.

Featured in the documentary is orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephen Tower, himself a hip replacement patient due to having degenerative hip issues causing persistent pain and interfering with his active lifestyle. Dr. Tower cites the most important element of an artificial joint is at the point where two pieces rub together, producing friction and chaffing. Metal on metal hip and knee joints are made from chromium-cobalt, one of the hardest industrial metals available.

For the first year, Dr, Tower's metal on metal hip replacement worked fine and he was able to resume his cycling hobby without problems. In about one and half years, however, Dr. Tower started to experience unexplainable medical issues that he did not have prior to receiving the cobalt hip. Dr. Tower started to suffer from tremors, tinnitus, and mental confusion, which accelerated and led to his having a nervous breakdown. Blood and urine tests revealed levels of cobalt 100 times greater than normal. When Dr. Tower called DePuy to see what could be done the company stated that they had never heard of a blood abnormality being an issue. Regardless Dr. Tower chose to have revision surgery to remove the metal on metal chromium-cobalt hip and replace it with a plastic ball and socket. Doctors performing the revision surgery found that the area surrounding the artificial hip was full of metal sludge and had basically liquified. Within a month of removing the heavy metal hip replacement, Dr. Towers psychological symptoms were alleviated and his mental health returned to normal.

According to the FDA, metal on metal artificial joints produces shavings when they rub against each other during their normal functioning such as walking. DePuy hips and knees are made from the extremely strong yet dangerous metal of Chromium, nickel, cobalt, and titanium. The FDA states that there is no way to create a knee joint where metal ions or metal and plastic debris will not be produced and that every patient reacts differently to foreign objects. As pertaining to metal and plastic knee and hip device debris, the FDA warns. "Over time, the metal particles around some implants can cause damage to bone and/or tissue surrounding the implant and joint. Soft tissue damage may lead to pain, implant loosening, device failure, and the need for revision surgery (the old device is removed and replaced with another one). Patients with a progressing ALTR may be considered for earlier revision to prevent extensive damage to bone, muscle, and nerves."

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