Recently, the Washington Post reported that there is a growing number of relatively young patients receiving hip and knee replacements. Hip replacement surgery has typically been associated with elderly patients, but is now more common in younger people who suffer pain that disrupts sleep and causes them to miss work. People 40, 45 or 50 years old who have lead active lives will suffer pain and limited mobility leading them to seek medical attention.
Typical hip replacements are expected to last 15-20 years. Once the artificial joint starts to wear and degrade, a revision surgery is needed. Younger patients are reclaiming their mobility but also facing the possibility of a second operation.
For patients to who received the DePuy hip replacement, their revision surgery has come much sooner. Johnson & Johnson, makers of DePuy recalled their hip replacements in 2010. That system has a design defect, and studies showed that 12% of patients needed revision surgery after only five years instead of fifteen or twenty.
Disclaimer: This post should not be taken as either medical or legal advice, but instead should act as a resource in providing general information that may be useful to the general public. Pope McGlamry is not affiliated with DePuy Orthopaedics, Johnson & Johnson, or their distributors.
