DePuy Hip Recall Lawsuit

INJURED BY DEPUY HIP DEVICE? CALL (612) TSR-TIME

For further inquiries about the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip System, feel free to call TSR Injury Law at 612.TSR.TIME (or 612-362-0000) or send an e-mail by clicking on this link: contact us.

On August 26, 2010, the DePuy Orthopaedics unit of Johnson & Johnson announced that it was recalling two hip replacement products: the ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System.  While the Resurfacing System has been approved for use in countries outside the United States, the ASR XL Acetabular hip system has been available in the United States and worldwide.

A DePuy spokeswoman reported that approximately 93,000 of these devices have been implanted globally.  More than 400 patients have registered complaints with the F.D.A. over the past two years due to problems they have had with Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy ASR hip devices.  Many ASR hip recipients have reported that their devices failed early, leading to the additional pain, recovery time, and expense that accompanies a revision surgery.

The DePuy ASR hip systems are part of a category of hip implants that involve metal-on-metal components.  Metal-on-metal hip devices have garnered greater attention in the past few years due to their propensity to generate metal debris from wear, which have caused some patients to experience inflammation and tissue damage.

Based upon unpublished data from a national registry in Britain, DePuy has stated that about 12 to 13 percent of patients needed a second hip replacement within five years of receiving an ASR implant.  In March, the British regulatory agency on medical devices issued an advisory regarding metal debris that can be generated by hip devices.  The New York Times has reported that the F.D.A. is planning to meet with professional medical groups soon to discuss the British advisory.

Anyone who believes they may have received one of these DePuy ASR hip systems recalled by Johnson & Johnson should contact their doctor.

Many lawsuits involving failed hip implants have already filed in both state and federal courts.  Our offices have been and continue to be involved in and committed to the prosecution of these actions on behalf of the victims of these defectively manufactured or designed products.  Please feel free to contact our offices for further information concerning the Johnson & Johnson recall of these DePuy ASR Hip Systems.

DePuy Orthopedics, a subsidiary of the Johnson and Johnson Company, has recently announced they are recalling two of these most popular DePuy hip replacement systems. The Depuy hip recall involves two different ASR hip replacement systems sold between 2003 and 2009:

• The DePuy ASR XL Acetabular
• The DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems

Close to 100,000 patients have used the DePuy ASR systems, many of which must undergo a second or revision surgery to remove and replace the system and correct the problems the system has caused. If you have had a hip replacement surgery from 2003 to 2009 and are experiencing pain or instability then it is a good idea to speak to your orthopedic surgeon or the hospital where your hip surgery took place to find out if the DePuy hip replacement system was used in your surgery.

DePuy Hip Recall Facts

There have been over 400 complaints in the last two years of patients in America having complications with these hip replacement systems. Complications include painful swelling, loosening or dislocation in the hip among other things. The metal on metal has also been known to cause wear and tear resulting in physical pain and instability. Furthermore, the Depuy ASR systems have the potential to release metals into the surrounding tissue and blood stream causing metal sensitivity. Your doctor can test you for the presence of these metals in your body.

Furthermore, many patients will need to undergo a second surgery to correct the problem. According to a recent study by the National Joint Registry of England, out of the 93,000 patients that have been treated with this system, one in eight will need a second or revision surgery within five years. This equates to a 12-13 percent failure rate.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawsuit

The DePuy ASR replacement systems first become popular in the United States in 2005 after worldwide success. For four years doctors and orthopedic surgeons relied on the DePuy ASR hip replacement systems and recommended these systems to their patients. It wasn’t until this year that DePuy Orthopedics announced that they would stop selling the systems. DePuy Orthopedics claimed the reason what due to declining sales but several months later DePuy issued its first warning to doctors and patients about the high early failure rate. One August 26 2010, the official recall of the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular and the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems came.

DePuy Metal on Metal Systems

The two systems that are being recalled are the ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System. The DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System is a hip socket used in traditional hip replacements while the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System is common in partial hip replacement involving placing a metal cap on the ball of the femur. Both use metal on metal systems which have been known to cause serious complications such as:

• Metallosis – metal staining on the soft tissue
• Black tissue
• Pseudo tumors around the implant location
• Elevated rate of cobalt and chromium in the blood stream

DePuy Hip Recall Symptoms

It is important to be on the lookout for the following symptoms and side effects reported by patients using the DePuy hip replacement systems:

• Any serious pain, inflammation, infection or swelling in the implant area
• Loosening of the implant or hip implant dislocation
• A clicking or clanking sound when you walk
• Problems with walking and other physical activity
• Increased levels of metal ion in the blood
• Bone straining, necrosis
• Nerve damage, tissue damage or muscle damage

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and have been treated with the DePuy hip replacement, then you may need revision surgery to correct the problem. With this comes more pain, more recovery time and more out of pocket expenses.

DePuy Hip Recall Attorneys

If you have had a DePuy hip replacement in recent years and have experienced painful swelling, dislocation of the hip, problems with physical activity, metal sensitivity or have needed a revision hip replacement, then there is a possibility that you have been impacted by the negligence of DePuy Orthopedics. Furthermore, you may be entitled to compensation for your emotional, physical and financial suffering.

INJURED BY DEPUY HIP DEVICE? CALL (612) TSR-TIME

For further inquiries about the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip System, feel free to call TSR Injury Law at 612.TSR.TIME (or 612-362-0000) or send an e-mail by clicking on this link: contact us.