Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants May Cause Dementia The level of concern among patients increased after finding out that metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implant flaking off small particle of metals into the bloodstreams may potentially put patients at risk of dementia, medical experts say. One of the MoM hip implant designs, the DePuy Orthopaedic’s ASR XL Acetabular System, which is used for total hip replacements, was recalled in 2010 amid publicized complains it is causing pain and system failure. There was about 8,000 recipients that filed a lawsuit. Three of them have already been granted a $200,000 settlement each but Industry insiders find hip implant settlements very low.

The DePuy hip implant from DePuy Orthopaedic, a unit by Johnson & Johnson, was designed to cater the needs of the younger patients who had hip problems and who were deprived of a life that they are supposed to enjoy. However, it wasn’t expected that several recipients suffered from a faulty hip implant and at risk of developing of several diseases due to leakage of tiny particles into the bloodstream, arthritis.org says. Dr. Michael Bolognesi, the director of surgery at the Duke Orthopaedic Department, is among those doctors that worry about the possibility of the particles from the implants getting released into the bloodstream. Dementia is a non-specific syndrome in which affected areas of brain function may be affected such as memory, language, problem solving and attention. It is far different from Alzheimer’s though because it is not a disease in itself.

When a person has dementia, it is more of higher mental functions of the patient which is involved initially. However, in the later stages, the person may not know what day of the week, month or year it is. Worst is that the person may not know where he is and problem identifying the people around the person. Dementia is significantly more common among elderly people. However, it can affect adults of any age. To address such issue, DePuy recommended that the patients should undergo a blood test to check for high levels of chromium and cobalt, even as they and Johnson and Johnson face a class-action lawsuit. To know more about related issues, check the DePuy Hip Recall Center. SOURCE: http://hipimplantnews.webs.com/apps/blog/show/18962869-metal-on-metal-hip-implants-may-cause-dementia URL REFERENCES: alzheimersweekly.com/content/monitor-hip-replacement-dementia-risks abcnews.go.com/Blotter/depuy-hip-implant-recalled/story?id=12287543&page=2#.UFcqXo3iZgM medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142214.php arthritistoday.org/news/asr-depuy-hip-replacement-recall078.php