Many individuals have received a hip replacement device known as the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System or DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System, which are now being recalled. These metal on metal hip implants led to many problems and complications.
In August 2010, DePuy recalled 93,000 of these metal hip implants following studies that showed that one out of every eight device might fail within five years. This surgery should provide relief for approximately 15 years.
Imagine undergoing surgery to improve your quality of life and ending up with metal particles shed into your body. These particles can damage soft tissues, cause inflammatory reactions and lead to permanent bone loss. As if that wasn’t horrible enough, imagine needing additional surgeries after the defective device needs replacement.
These recalled hip replacements did not become defective overnight. Manufactured by Johnson & Johnson/DePuy Orthopaedics, the ASR Hip Resurfacing System was introduced in the US in 2005. By 2008, more than 400 complaints were filed from failed ASR devices, which required a second invasive procedure to correct the first one.
It wasn’t until 2009 that DePuy started withdrawing these faulty devices. Johnson & Johnson said that “slow sales” were the reason they phased out these devices, despite the fact that faulty mechanics was the real reason, “especially in smaller patients or those with weak bones.”
On August 26, 2010 Johnson & Johnson/DePuy issued a worldwide recall of both the ASR Hip Resurfacing System and the ASR XL Acetabular System after determining that the failure rate for both was greater than 12%.
Is this justice? To have a manufacturer knowingly conceal detrimental information about their product to thicken their wallets, yet harm the hundreds of thousands who trusted them?
If you or a loved one have experienced any side effects from your DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System, you may be entitled to compensation. Please stop by our website or call one of our attorneys at 1-800-246-4878 for more information. Feel free to leave us comments on our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter.
