DePuy Hip Replacement Failure Attorney

Johnson & Johnson DePuy ASR Recall Lawsuit Lawyer

DEFECTIVE HIP REPLACEMENTS RECALLED

DePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced at the end of August 2010 that it is recalling parts used for hip replacements. At issue is the high rate of repeat surgeries needed by people who have received the implants. An estimated 93,000 people will be affected by Johnson & Johnson’s latest product recall. Following many months of pain, inconvenience and rehabilitation therapy for hip replacement surgery with the DePuy ASR hip replacement system, one in eight patients will be forced to undergo the ordeal again due to defects in the ASR system according to MHRA reports.

The hip implants have been associated with pain, infections, fractures, dislocation, sensitivity to the metal and loosening of parts.

Click here to see symptoms of the defective DePuy ASR hip implant system.

If you have had your hip replaced using DePuy's ASR acetabular cups or resurfacing system, are experiencing pain and discomfort, or have been advised by you surgeon to undergo a second surgery, contact the DePuy hip replacement failure attorneys at the BRANDI LAW FIRM today (1-800-481-1615 or  email us) to talk with a Johnson & Johnson DePuy ASR recall lawsuit attorney.

Our experienced defective hip replacement attorneys at the BRANDI LAW FIRM can immediately assist you and discuss your legal options. Contact 1-800-481-1615 or email us for your FREE consultation today.

DePuy has announced that 12% of patients who received the ASR resurfacing device and 13% of patients who received the ASR total hip replacement need a “revision surgery.”  Revision surgery is a painful and expensive process in which the defective ASR cup is removed, and replaced with a different device. It is a surgery to replace defective parts.

WHICH DePUY HIPS ARE INVOLVED?

Affected hip replacement parts involved in the recall include the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System, which is the cup portion of a replacement hip joint, and the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System. Resurfacing involves implanting a cup and capping the ball at the top of the thighbone in a procedure that preserves more bone than traditional replacements. It is geared toward younger patients.

Each of the metal products is used to replace a worn or weakened part of the hip, which consists of a socket at the outer edge of the pelvis and a rounded bone atop the thigh bone that fits into that socket like a ball. The ASR Hip Resurfacing System replaces the ball portion of the hip and has a metal stem that fits into the top of the hip bone, or femur. The ASR XL Acetabular System is a concave metal piece used to provide a smooth lining for the acetabulum, the bowl-shaped socket in the pelvis.

DePuy's hip resurfacing product, a form of hip replacement arthroplasty, is designed to provide patients with an alternative to total hip replacement where less bone could be removed and less hip dislocations occur. Unfortunately those benefits are greatly outweighed by the dangers of DePuy's defective hip replacement.

Although this August 26, 2010 DePuy hip recall is voluntary, DePuy also received a warning letter from the FDA that charges the company is marketing some other joint replacement products without required approval.

Physicians were notified about potential problems with the hip replacement parts beginning in March of this year. The decision to recall the parts was made when the results of a new study confirmed a five-year rate of revision surgery of about 12 percent for the ASR resurfacing system and about 13 percent for the ASR XL system, according to DePuy, which is higher than the expected rate.

Patients who reported problems in the first five years and had revision surgery reported a variety of symptoms, including pain, swelling and problems walking. These symptoms are normal for patients following a hip replacement, but can be a sign that something is wrong if they continue or come back frequently. These symptoms may indicate serious problems, including:

• Loosening - when the implant does not stay attached to the bone in the correct position
• Fracture - where the bone around the implant may have broken
• Dislocation - where the two parts of the implant that move against each other are no longer aligned.

According to published reports, DePuy has stated it will cover “reasonable and customary costs of monitoring and treatment for services.” BUT DePuy has limited its voluntary offer of compensation to the costs of medical care provided.

Since you are entitled to full and fair compensation if you received an ASR hip implant and are experiencing problems, you need to consult a DePuy hip recall attorney to understand your rights to see if you may qualify for compensation for physical damage, additional surgeries, your pain and suffering, and to understand your rights.

Please contact your orthopedic surgeon to determine whether you received a DePuy ASR hip implant. If you don’t know who performed your hip replacement surgery, ask your primary care physician or the hospital where the surgery took place. Click here to see symptoms of the defective DePuy ASR hip implant system. If you have been injured and wish to protect your legal rights contact the DePuy hip replacement failure attorneys at the BRANDI LAW FIRM 1-800-481-1615 or email us your FREE consultation today.