• Depuy Hip Lawsuits
• DePuy Hip Recall
• DePuy Company History
• DePuy Hip Manufacturer
• DePuy HIp Statistics

DePuy Hip Recall

DePuy Orthopedics, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced a full recall of their ASR XL Acetabular Hip Replacement Implant on August 26, 2010.  The DePuy Hip Recall comes nearly a year after the company started taking steps to limit their damages after numerous reports of hip failures in the first 4 years the product was on the market. 

The ASR XL, known as the “DePuy Hip”, was originally released in August of 2005.  Marketed as a high performance hip replacement option to younger, more active patients, the implant offered longer life through reduced wear due to its unique metal-on-metal ball and socket system.  This differed from systems from other companies which offered metal on plastic or metal on ceramic.

Unfortunately, doctors soon noticed serious problems with the DePuy Hip Implants in patients returning after surgery.  In 2007, approximately 100 patients who had received the DePuy Hip Implants reported problems.  By 2008 the number of patients with significant problems jumped to more than 200 and by 2009, over 300 patients were reporting symptoms consistent with implant failure.

If you or a family member received a DePuy Hip Implant and have experienced any adverse symptoms, it is important that you speak with a qualified attorney about the DePuy Hip Recall and your legal rights as soon as possible.

The ASR XL Hip Replacement was used in more than 93,000 patients from 2005 until 2010. In 2009 alone, DePuy and Johnson & Johnson earned approximately $5.4 billion in revenue from the ASR Hip Implant.

Hip replacement implants are generally designed to last for at least 15 years. A standard measure of device reliability is that no more than 5% of hip implant patients should need revision surgery within 5 years.  In the case of the DePuy Hip Implant, however, more than 13% of patients so far have required a revision surgery.

Some examples of problems submitted to the FDA by surgeons replacing faulty DePuy Hip Implants are loosening of implanted cups, lack of bone growth into implanted cups and metalosis, or inflammation from metal shavings.

Experts indicate the highest failure rate is for the DePuy ASR with head sizes below 50 mm in diameter.  In addition, female patients receiving the implant appear to be at a greater risk for implant failure.

Using the excuse of declining sales, DePuy stopped selling the ASR XL Implant in late 2009. By March of 2010, they began to warn doctors about the early failure rates and took steps to remove all remaining implants on the market from inventory.

On August 26, 2010, a DePuy Hip Recall was issued by the company on all ASR XL Acetabular Implants.  This included instructing patients that they should see their doctor for possible implant failure symptoms such as pain and difficulty walking or standing.  Doctors were also advised to discontinue using the devices.  The FDA has officially labeled the company’s actions as a recall of the DePuy ASR XL Hip Replacement Device.

According to the New York Times, The DePuy ASR Hip Implant was recalled from the Australian market in December of 2009 after the devices high failure rate was documented in the 2008 Australian Registry. 

The device is also under review for recall in the U.K. after a study last year found a marked percentage of patients had suffered reactions to metal debris such as pain and soft tissue damage to the hip area, muscle damage, vision loss and hearing loss.

As part of the DePuy Hip Recall, doctors have been provided with information and a medical release to give each patient, and offered compensation to those doctors who get their patients to sign the release.  This would allow the company to obtain both medical records and the defective implant from patients, which could affect their future legal rights.

Legal Options

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers caution that you do not sign this release before speaking with someone about your legal rights.

DePuy has indicated that it will pay “reasonable and customary costs of monitoring and treatment” related to the recalled hip implants, which may include surgery to replace the hip, if necessary.  However, this does not include compensation for other damages including lost wages, time, pain and suffering.

DePuy Hip Recall Lawyers are currently filing lawsuits on behalf of those affected by this defective product.  If you or a loved one received a DePuy Hip Implant, call us today to discuss your legal rights.