FDA the Last to Ban DePuy Hip Replacements

At the end of August, 2010 Johnson and Johnson and its DePuy Orthopaedics subsidiary announced a voluntary recall for the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System and the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System. Nearly 100,000 people may be affected by this product recall. According to the new data, Within five years of implantation, about 12 percent of people who got the ASR resurfacing device, and 13 percent of people who got the ASR total hip replacement, have had DePuy hip complications and had them surgically removed and replaced with a different product.
The signs of trouble include swelling, pain and even difficulty walking. Persistent side effects of Depuy can signal a loose implant, fracture of the bone around it, or dislocation of the implant's ball and socket, the company reported. Metal-on-metal hip implants, like the recalled DePuy ASR hip replacement, have been linked to metal poisoning or metallosis, which could cause serious problems with the hip replacement. Symptoms often involve the development of pain, inflammation and difficulty walking as the metal-on-metal parts rub against each other and release debris or small metal fragments. Many individuals are filing DePuy lawsuits to receive compensation.

Studies from The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery have shown that patients who have been treated with a contemporary metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty and have suggested that metal hypersensitivity associated with an immunologic response to metal may be of etiologic importance. Although the company had received negative reports from foreign joint registries regarding the ASRs’ higher-than-normal failure rate, the company still sold the implants. David Floyd, DePuy Orthopedics president at the time of the recall, issued the following statement:

“We regret that this recall will be concerning for patients, their family members and surgeons. We are committed to assisting patients and health care providers by providing information through multiple channels and paying for the cost of doctor visits, tests and procedures associated with the recall.” Victims suffering from the adverse side effects of DePuy hip failure are highly advised to contact an experienced Depuy hip lawyer as soon as possible.