DePuy Hip Replacement Recall
On August 26, 2010, DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson, issued a formal product recall of two of its hip replacement systems because of higher than expected early failure rates. Nearly 93,000 hip replacement devices have been sold and implanted in patients in the last five years. Studies have shown that almost 12 percent of those who received the implants needed corrective surgery after experiencing negative side effects. If you or a loved one has had a DePuy hip replacement, contact Bailey & Partners for more information about the recall of this defective product and whether you might qualify for compensation.
What Products have been Recalled?
The recent recall includes the following DePuy products:
- The ASR XL Acetabular Hip Replacement System: This is a total hip replacement system. In a normal hip, the top of the femur (thigh bone) called the femoral head rotates within the curved surface of the acetabulum (hip socket). In the DePuy system, replacement parts include a metal femoral head that fits inside a metal acetabulum cup. This product has been sold worldwide, including the U.S.
- The ASR Hip Resurfacing System: In this system, the ball of the femur is covered with a metal cap and the acetabulum is replaced with a metal cup. This device has only been sold outside of the U.S., however some U.S. patients have received this implant in clinical trials.
Why have these Implants Failed?
In the first five years that the DePuy implants were used, hundreds of patients reported symptoms such as continual pain, swelling, decreased mobility and audible clicking sounds. Studies showed that the acetabulum cup was failing to properly affix itself to the patient’s bone. This resulted in the following problems:
- loosening of the implant
- bone fracture around the implant
- dislocation of the implant parts
- swelling and infection of the tissue and muscle around the hip joint
In addition, the friction between the metal replacement parts (made of chromium and cobalt metals) causes metal ions to be dispersed into the surrounding tissue and throughout the rest of the body, which elevates the level of heavy metals in the patient’s bloodstream. After failures of this type, a patient must undergo painful and expensive revision surgery to remove and replace the defective implants.
Symptoms of the DePuy Hip Replacement System:
Patients who have reported problems with the hip replacement systems have experienced numerous symptoms, including:
- pain and swelling in the lower back, hip, groin, or leg
- decreased mobility and problems walking
- audible sounds, such as clicking, popping, and crunching
- infection
- bone fracture
- bone dislocation
- elevated levels of heavy metals in the blood
- increased metabolic activity in the implant area as shown on bone scans
DePuy Hip Replacement Recall Attorney
Thousands of patients have been adversely affected by DePuy Hip Replacement Systems and many will have to be subjected to painful revision surgery. Although DePuy has offered limited compensation to pay for some second surgeries, victims of this defective product may be entitled to additional types of compensation, such as future medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages and earning capacity, costs of rehabilitation, and other possible damages. If you or a loved one has had a DePuy hip replacement, it is essential that you contact Bailey & Partners for a free case evaluation. Our experienced attorneys will aggressively fight to protect your rights and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
