DePuy ASR Hip Recall Information
The DePuy ASR (Articular Surface Replacement) Hip Resurfacing System and ASR XL Acetabular System total hip replacement have been recalled by DePuy Orthopaedics following data showing that more people than expected experienced pain or other serious side effects as a result of the hip implant devices.
Numerous patients have since required a second hip replacement surgery to correct issues associated with the DePuy devices, and hundreds of lawsuits have already been filed against the manufacturer following the onset of painful and debilitating side effects.
Recipients of the DePuy ASR Hip Implant devices may be entitled to legal compensation for current and future health issues. For additional information about legal options, please call 1-800-452-0949 or fill out the form below.
Data from a study conducted by the National Joint Registry of England and Wales revealed that five years following the initial implantation surgery, 12 percent of patients who were implanted with the ASR resurfacing device and 13 percent of those who received the ASR total hip replacement required a second hip replacement surgery to correct problems associated with the devices.
Complications and Possible Design Flaw
The DePuy ASR products first became available in July 2003, and the DePuy ASR metal-on-metal hip replacement device has been implanted in more than 13,000 patients internationally since then. Prior to the recall, studies noted various painful and sometimes permanent side effects associated with the DePuy hip system, including:
- Loose ASR cup
- Allergic reaction to metallic debris
- Pseudotumors (soft tissue mass that can form as a result of reactions to excess metallic debris)
- Cobalt or chromium poisoning
Additionally, many doctors believe that the DePuy ASR hip cup component is too shallow, which prevents proper implantation and can lead to hip complications.
At the time of the recall, DePuy said it had made the decision because of the number of patients that required revision surgery to remove the devices after they had failed.
Later, after it became embroiled in litigation filed by patients who underwent procedures to remove the defective implants, DePuy denied there were any problems with the devices. The company said the decision to withdraw the devices from the market was based on their fading popularity and the need to focus on emerging hip-replacement technologies.
Taking the Next Step
If you received either the ASR Hip Resurfacing System or the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System during a hip replacement surgery, you may have been contacted by DePuy Orthopaedics or Johnson & Johnson in recent months regarding the recall of these devices. It is important to seek the counsel of an experienced lawyer before seeing a doctor or signing any paperwork provided by the companies, as you may be signing a waiver that keeps you from receiving any compensation for future medical expenses that may arise.
Though the companies may offer compensation to you, the compensation may not cover some medical expenses, blood tests or diagnostic exams that may be recommended by a doctor to check for certain complications such as “metallosis,” or a serious allergic reaction to metal debris in the body. The compensation package also may not cover other expenses such as lost wages, loss of earning capacity or pain and suffering.
It is recommended that patients speak with an attorney about legal options prior to signing any documents provided by DePuy Orthopaedics or Johnson & Johnson. To find out additional information about your legal rights, please call 1-800-452-0949 or fill out the form on this page.
