Younger, Longer-living Hip Replacement Patients Spur Industry Changes

In a lawsuit involving an injured plaintiff, his or her health is a key determinant in the damage award

. Thus, a younger, healthy plaintiff is likely to receive more money than an older plaintiff with a low quality of life.

This trend has likely not escaped the attention of DePuy Orthopaedics, which is facing numerous lawsuits after it recalled its ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System. One can imagine that the companys thinking goes something like this: the majority of hip recipients are older patients and, because they are not expected to live significantly longer, they are not entitled to a substantial damage award (that is, compared to a younger patient).

While this trend may currently hold true, it may not for long, at least according to a new study presented by the Rothman Institute at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The study concluded that longer-lasting hip implants are needed due to the changing demographic of artificial hip recipients and the increasing life expectancy of Americans.

According to the Rothman Institute, people younger than 65 could account for over half of all hip replacement surgeries as early as 2011. By 2050, the average life expectancy of American males and females is expected to reach 86.4 years and 92.3 years, respectively. The life expectancy of todays 50-year-olds is 76.8 for males and 81.6 for females. This means that the current, average life expectancy of an artificial hip, which is somewhere around 15 years, will soon be rendered obsolete by younger, longer-living recipients.

And its not just the age of the patients that is a problem. Younger recipients tend to be more active, which subjects the implant to more wear and, presumably, earlier failure. This has led to the Rothman Institute exploring a number of new technologies aimed at decreasing the friction between the hips ball and socket. Among the options being looked at are more durable ceramic and polyethylene (plastic) components.

Current, third-generation hip implants typically consist of plastic-on-metal, ceramic, or metal-on-metal parts. Used in the recalled DePuy ASR hips, metal-on-metal implants can pose serious health problems because they deposit microscopic metal flakes into a patients body. If you received an ASR hip, schedule a meeting with you orthopedic surgeon right away. You may also want to consider speaking with a hip recall lawyer. Because DePuy may try to use every conceivable reason, including your age, to reduce the amount of compensation you receive, you need a legal advocate to protect your rights.

by: Katherine Russel

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