Support group set up for hip patients (From York Press)

Support group set up for hip patients

11:59am Monday 6th February 2012 in Health & Wellbeing

A SUPPORT group for people who feel their health has suffered because of a faulty hip replacement has been set up by a York solicitors’ firm.

Pryers Solicitors is representing more than 200 patients after the failure of some artificial hips produced by DePuy International.

The fault has seen DePuy withdraw its ASR hip from the market, and it has issued advice to doctors on how to determine whether a particular patient’s joint has failed or not.

A spokesman for Pryers said: “The problem is thought to be caused by the shape of the socket. This leads to premature wear, with tiny particles of metal breaking away from the surface of the components. “These particles cause damage to the muscles, tendons and even the bone around the joint. The metal particles also pass into the patient’s bloodstream, but it is not yet known what long-term effect this might have.”

The spokesman said: “We have also been instrumental in establishing and co-ordinating a patient support group for the north of England, called Altogether ASR, which has had several meetings and will shortly be launching a website."

For details on the group, phone Pryers on 0800 316 0166.