DePuy Hip Replacement Lawsuits

Devices Recalled Due to High Failure Rate

DePuy Orthopedists (acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 1998) has voluntarily recalled 2 defective hip replacement products due to higher than normal rates of corrective surgery. The devices affected by the recall are Depuy ASR XL (for total hip replacement) and ASR Hip Resurfacing System (for partial hip replacement).

If you or a loved one has had complications from hip replacement surgery involving one of these devices, you may be entitled to compensation through a DePuy hip replacement lawsuit.

What are Depuy Hip Replacement Devices?

Depuy ASR XL and ASR Hip Resurfacing System are hip replacement products introduced to the US market in 2005. The Depuy ASR XL is generally used in patients who require a complete hip replacement, while the ASR Hip Resurfacing System is used for hip resurfacing procedures, in which the product augments and strengthens the natural hip structure.

Both hip replacement systems are members of a new class of hip replacement technology that are crafted from a single sheet of metal. The designs of these hip replacements were intended to create a more stable hip replacement product that was not as susceptible to dislocation.

What are the risks?

After selling 93,000 of the defective hip replacement products, Depuy released information on August 30, 2010 that showed that more than 13% of ASR hip replacement patients had to undergo surgery for removal of the device after it failed. Based on the data collected, DePuy accelerated the recall, telling doctors and hospitals to stop implanting the ASR hip replacement devices and return all unused inventory to the company.

The data released by DePuy shows that the ASR hip has already failed in 13 percent of patients. This failure rate can significantly increase over time, subjecting thousands of patients to additional surgeries in order to remove and replace the defective hip implant. If DePuy says that 93,000 ASR hips have been implanted in patients, at a 13 percent failure rate, that means that 12,000 patients will have to undergo a painful, risky, and complex surgery to remove the defective part.