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DePuy HIp Statistics

DePuy Orthopedics issued a full recall of its DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip Implant on August 26, 2010. The implant was only released to the market in 2005 but experienced dramatic failure rates during its short lifespan.

DePuy Orthopaedics, which was founded in Warsaw, Indiana in 1895, is the oldest orthopedic company in the world. The company was purchased by Johnson & Johnson from Roche Pharmaceuticals in 1998. Johnson & Johnson is the largest healthcare product manufacturer in the world with revenue of $61.9 billion in 2009 alone. 

DePuy Orthopedics manufactures approximately one-third of all hip implant devices used in hip replacement surgeries in the United States.  The company develops and manufactures medical products under the brand names DePuy Mitek, DePuy Orthopaedics, Codman and DePuy Spine.

The DePuy Hip Implant recall marks the 11th recall of a Johnson & Johnson product since September of 2009.  The DePuy Implant was used in more than 93,000 patients between 2005 and 2010, generating approximately $5.4 billion in revenue in 2009.

Patients began reporting problems with their DePuy Implants soon after its release. In 2007, approximately 100 patients who had received the 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 loved one received a DePuy Hip Implant between 2005 and 2010, it is important to speak with an Attorney about your legal rights regarding the DePuy Hip Recall.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

 

Hip Implant devices are intended to last for 15 years or more. Usually, no more than 5% of hip implant patients should need revision surgery within 5 years.  However, in the case of the DePuy Hip Implant, over 13% of patients so far have required a revision surgery because of failure of a defective implant.

 

Some of the problems noted by doctors replacing defective DePuy Hip Implants include loosening of implanted cups, dislocation, lack of bone growth into implanted cups and metalosis, or inflammation from metal shavings.

 

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

The FDA classified DePuy’s actions as a recall of the ASR XL Hip Device.  In addition, the FDA issued warnings to DePuy on August 19, 2010 for two other products including the Corail Hip System.

As part of the recall, DePuy is asking patients to sign a medical release and return the faulty implant after removal.  It has indicated it will only pay “reasonable and customary costs of monitoring and treatment” related to the recalled hip implants.  The offer does nothing to compensate patients for the necessity of undergoing a repeat surgery or the pain, suffering, lost wages or time they have experienced.

If you have been contacted about the DePuy Implant Recall, DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING before first speaking with an attorney about your legal rights.

Signing the release from DePuy may allow the company to obtain all of your medical records, affect your future rights to Medicare, and require that you turn over the defective hip implant once it is removed, significantly limiting your legal options.

Lawyers are currently filing DePuy Hip Lawsuits for the damages suffered by those affected by this defective product.  Contact us today to discuss your legal rights.  Time to file a claim is limited.