Consumer Reports Dangerous Devices May 2012

[mslendzion]

Not sure if any of you saw the article in the May CR. CR Investigates / Dangerous devices.  There is a section on Metal Hips: Missed Alarms.  At least the article calls out the DePuy ASR XL as the defective device and sited an article in the British Medical Journal as "one of the biggest disasters in orthopaedic history".  I have the magazine on my iPad and was unable to get a link to &/or copy the article text. 

Although they reference metal on metal resurfacing at the beginning of the article (metal ball on the femur) they end with FDA data received between 2009 to 2011 where there were 20158 reports of injuries from metal on metal TOTAL  hip replacements, of those 15,137 were recalled by the DeBuy hips.  I think they are confused about the difference between resurfacing and a total metal on metal replacement. 

[mslendzion]

Here is the url  http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/04/cr-investigates-dangerous-medical-devices/index.htm 

[Neild5]

The article was not blasting MOM devices nor was there any reference to hip resurfacing.  They were showing how a defective device could get FDA approval and there was not a recall until 93,000 hips were implanted.  Also how even an orthopedic surgeon could not get answers.  Also looking at the x-ray at the top of the article all I can say is wow! 

[mslendzion]

Also looking at the x-ray at the top of the article all I can say is wow!

I know...right.

[hernanu]

Outside of the possibility of lumping in all MOM devices, both THR and HR, I thought it fine.

The main points were formation of a national registry, more testing and no inheritance of acceptance of a new device based on a previous. I'm fine with that, but a true breakdown of safe devices and unsafe (recalled or future) is needed to avoid safe devices coming under attack.

The more valid statistics that become well known and respected, the better for all HR's. I'm lucky to have had mine already and be set, the benefits are for those of us who are out there suffering and may not get an HR as an option due to this panic.