DePuy Hip Recall Lawsuit
The DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System total hip replacement and ASR Hip Resurfacing System have been used in more than 93,000 hip replacement surgeries worldwide since they were first approval by the FDA in 2003. Even though the hip device experienced success on the market, DePuy Orthopaedics, the division of Johnson & Johnson that manufactures the implants, issued a recall in August 2010 of the DePuy ASR hip systems, citing an abnormally high failure rate of the devices. The devices are supposed to last close to fifteen years, but have been found to have a 12-13 percent failure rate within the first couple years of implantation.
This failure rate is almost double the industry average. Some physicians believe that the implant has a fundamental design defect that makes it difficult to implant. If you have experienced problems with a DePuy hip implant, contact the personal injury lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. for a FREE consultation to see how we can help you. 803.252.4800
DePuy ASR Complications
The DePuy ASR ball-and-socket hip implant has been the topic of much debate and controversy in recent years, because many patients have suffered serious side effects from the devices.
Numerous doctors believe that the cup of the DePuy ASR hip implant is too shallow. This design flaw can cause improper implantation and other health problems, including loosening of the hip implant within the body and “metallosis,” a condition caused by movement of the implant which could result in the release of higher, possibly dangerous levels of chromium and cobalt ions into the body.
Since 2008, the FDA has received more than 300 complaints of problems with the implants, including:
- Loose hip cups
- Hip dislocations
- Bone fractures
- Pseudotumors from metal debris
- Allergic reactions
- Permanent muscle and tissue damage
Hip implants are usually expected to last up to 15 years, but many individuals have reported that the DePuy implant systems are failing after only two or three years, requiring expensive and painful subsequent surgeries to have the implant replaced or repaired.
In the last three years, the FDA has received more than 300 complaints of problems with the implants, such as:
- Pseudotumors from metal debris
- Allergic reactions
- Permanent muscle and tissue damage
- Loose hip cups
- Hip dislocations
- Bone fractures
The DePuy implants are failing after only two or three years, and as a result requiring expensive and painful surgical procedures to have the implant replaced or repaired. If you had the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System or ASR Hip Resurfacing System, you might have been in correspondence with DePuy concerning the recall of these devices. Prior to visiting a doctor and signing any paperwork provided by DePuy and/or Johnson & Johnson, you should speak with an attorney about your rights. Patients who sign documents from DePuy might be signing a waiver, which could prevent them from getting any extra compensation from the company, should medical complications arise in the future.
Call Today to Start Your Depuy Case
Product liability lawsuits claim negligent design and advertisement of a defective product. According to the New York Times, DePuy Orthopedics launched their metal-on-metal hip implant without thoroughly testing and researching it. Although the ASR was approved for use by the FDA in 2005, it was cleared through a narrow pathway that did not require it to undergo clinical trials.
If you or a loved one have experienced problems with a DePuy hip implant, contact the lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, LLC to learn how we can help you with your legal rights. 803.252.4800
