With over 90,000 hip replacement systems recently being recalled, there is obviously a great deal of alarm in the senior community. Let’s face it; hip replacement surgery is no walk in the park to begin with – extended hospital stays, pain and discomfort that lasts for weeks after the surgery, being hooked up to drains for days after the operation. Who wants to endure that? Let alone twice? Unfortunately, this recent hip replacement recall is requiring many patients to have to go through another "corrective" surgery.

The recall itself began with products from Stryker and Zimmer; however, a popular DePuy hip replacement system recently joined that list at the end of August. The DePuy system is the ASR XL Acetabular System. Of course, the company also recalled their ASR Hip Resurfacing System, though only the former was used in the United States. Stryker’s recall focused on the Trident PSL and the Trident Hemispherical Acetabular Cup, both of which were used by numerous hospitals throughout the U.S. Of course, Zimmer’s Durom Cup is also on the recent recalled devices, which makes this a very major issue for hip replacement patients.

It’s surprisingly not all that uncommon for patients to be unfamiliar with the exact type of implant that they have. Yes, it is policy to discuss the implant and the placement procedure prior to the actual surgery; however, many patients tend to put all of their trust in their physicians and let this information go in one ear and out the other. Therefore, when it comes down to it, many simply cannot remember the exact model that they have implanted.

This knowledge is extremely important though; especially if the telltale signs of implant failure start to rear their ugly heads. Those signs include swelling, chronic pain, clicking, popping; implant dislocation or loosening, and hip fracture. Those that are experiencing these signs now should definitely consult with their physician to (a) confirm the type of implant system they have, and (b) to find out what can be done to fix the issue. Of course, that is not the only individual that a person with a faulty medical device should call. It’s always wise to get in touch with an experienced hip attorney in instances such as these. An experienced attorney can help patients by gathering and preserving imperative evidence and by filing all of the frustrating paperwork for their claim.