DePuy ASR Hip Recall News

Recent data from the National Joint Registry of England and Wales has received prominence, which showed 12% of DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System and 13% of the DePuy ASR XL Acetablular System needing a second hip replacement within 5 years. This and other known problems caused DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. to recall the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular and DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems on August 26, 2010. Roughly 93,000 of these hip replacement devices have been implanted worldwide (the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System was not approved for use in the United States). DePuy began warning doctors that the implants may have a high rate of failure in some patients in March.

There have been numerous signs pointing to problems with these hip replacement systems, which are part of a metal-on-metal bearings class of joint replacement systems. These devices can generate debris that sometimes leads to inflammation and tissue damage. The New York Times has published multiple articles about the problems and potential for more widespread problems for persons with these implants. The newspaper articles included statements from prominent orthopedic surgeons that "most major medical centers have seen issues with this device". The FDA has received hundreds of complaints from patients with the devices and there have been numerous hip replacement lawsuits filed in the last several years. The DePuy hip replacement lawsuits allege the company of manufacturing a defective product, failing to warn patients and doctors of problems with the implant and negligence in designing, manufacturing and selling the product. With a 12 - 13% rate of premature failure, it's likely that 11,000 or more people will now need to undergo a second complicated and painful hip replacement procedure.

DePuy Hip Recall Information

Patients who have a DePuy ASR XL Acetabular or DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System should receive a letter informing them of the recall. The first step is to consult your doctor. If you have experienced problems with your DePuy ASR hip replacement system a surgery for a secondary hip replacement will be likely. In other cases additional tests and monitoring may become necessary.

In it's recall notice, DePuy stated that it "intends to cover reasonable and customary costs of monitoring and treatment", which include hip replacement surgery. Although the company will release the procedure for reimbursement at a later date, it did state that patients will need to pay for any costs they incur and then DePuy will reimburse people for "reasonable and customary expenses" at a later date. The company further stated that such reimbursement will be subject to confirmation of eligibility, which requires the completion of various documentation, x-rays, the removed devices and other medical information.

Johnson & Johnson Defective Products and Lawsuits

DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, Inc. with $5.4 billion in sales last year. Recently the company has also recalled children's Tylenol and Accuvue contact lenses in Asia. The FDA also recently sent DePuy a warning letter stating that the company had illegally marketed a knee replacement device and sold a hip replacement system for an unapproved use. This has led a number of experts that study the industries in which Johnson & Johnson is involved to question whether there is a systemic problem within the company.

DePuy Hip Recall Legal Help

If you or a loved one is required to undergo a second hip replacement surgery because of the DePuy hip recall, that may not cover the significant expenses, pain and ongoing suffering associated with a second surgery and the recovery and rehabilitation that will be required. You have legal options and rights and if you need a hip recall lawyer, we're here to help.

A personal message from Lewis Garrison, a founding member of the law firm of Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC: "Our firm is in the business of helping those who have been harmed by the actions of others. Every day, we fight the largest corporations, which attempt to trample on the rights of ordinary citizens. We have a long track record of success----because we because we treat each client with the dignity they deserve, and we will not rest until our clients have obtained justice."

Heninger Garrison Davis, with offices in Birmingham, Mississippi and Atlanta, Georgia, is a General Civil Trial Practice including Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Commercial Litigation, Consumer Fraud, Trucking Accidents, Products Liability, Medical Malpractice, Fraud, Insurance Litigation, Patent Litigation, Toxic Exposure Litigation, Asbestos Litigation, Social Security, Patent Litigation, and Workers' Compensation law.