Patient Awarded $8.3 M in First of Thousands of DePuy Hip Implant Suits
In what was the first of thousands of DePuy hip implant lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson, a former prison guard was... read more
DePuy ASR™ Hip System Recall
DePuy Orthopaedics , a Johnson & Johnson (J&J) company, recalled two if its hip systems in August 2010 after receiving several reports that the hip systems were failing within three to five years of implantation. The DePuy hip system recall involved the ASR™ XL total hip replacement system and the ASR™ Hip Resurfacing System.
High Failure Rate
Before the recall, more than 90,000 patients were implanted with the hip systems. At the time of the recall, DePuy claimed that 12 to 13 percent of the systems would fail within five years of surgery. New evidence from The British Orthopedic Association and the British Hip Society suggests a much higher failure rate. According to the British orthopedists' group, 21 percent of the systems will fail in 4 years and 49 percent will fail within 6 six years.
This new data means that the recall could potentially affect thousands more patients than expected. When a hip implant fails, the patient will require revision surgery to fix the problem or replace the hip implant completely. Revision surgery is costly, painful and usually much more debilitating than the initial surgery, according to reports.
DePuy ASR™ Hip Implant Problems
Patients have reported several signs and symptoms before undergoing revision surgery. If you have a DePuy ASR™ hip implant and begin to experience the following symptoms, you should visit your doctor right away to determine if your hip implant has become loose or dislocated or if the bone around the implant has fractured:
- Severe pain
- Swelling in the joint
- Difficulty walking or standing
Important Safety Information
The DePuy ASR™ XL hip implant system became available in July 2003, so if you had hip replacement surgery before July 2003, you are not affected by the recall. If you are unsure of the brand or type of implant you have, you should contact your surgeon to find out if you have a recalled system.
If you do have a DePuy ASR™ XL hip implant system, you should visit your doctor for testing to make sure your implant isn't defective. Should you require revision surgery, you should consider speaking with an attorney about your right to compensation.
Compensation is Available
To date, more than 1,000 people have filed DePuy hip implant lawsuits against J&J. According to the Wall Street Journal, a Wells Fargo analyst estimated that J&J could face more than $1 billion in liability for the ASR™ hip systems.
While DePuy says it will pay for the medical costs, our hip implant lawyers believe the company owes you much more than that. We serve as advocates for affected patients and will fight to get you a maximum recovery for your pain and suffering, lost wages, and decreased quality of life. For more information about the recall, or to schedule your free case review, please contact us today.
