DePuy ASR Hip Implants

DePuy ASR Hip Implant Recall Attorneys

DePuy ASR Hip Implant Recall

On August 24, 2010, DePuy Orthopedics Inc. announced that they were recalling their ASR hip replacement products, including the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System,  DePuy ASR Articular Surface Replacement, and all implant components of the DePuy ASR platform. Under normal circumstances, a hip implant should last for approximately 15 years. DePuy stated in their recall that data provided by the National Joint Registry (NJR) of England and Wales indicated that 12% of the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System recipients and 13% of the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System recipients required revision surgery within the first five years. DePuy went on to specify that the risk for revision surgery was highest with the DePuy ASR head sizes below 50mm and among female patients.

According to a New York Times article, metal-on-metal hip implants have been used in approximately 250,000 hip implants annually within the U.S. However, due to concerns of severe tissue and bone damage, many leading orthopedic surgeons have reduced or completely stopped the use of metal-on-metal hip implants, including the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System.

What Symptoms Indicate Problems With DePuy ASR Hip Implants?

According to DePuy, the patients requiring revision surgery within the first five years reported a variety of symptoms. These included pain, swelling, and problems walking. Most of these symptoms are normal after hip replacement surgery. If the symptoms are continuous or come back frequently, it may be a sign that there is a problem with the implant. Per DePuy, these problems include:

• Loosening – Where the implant does not stay attached to the bone in the correct position
• Fracture – Where the bone around the implant may have broken
• Dislocation – Where the two parts of the implant are no longer aligned

The FDA states on their metal on metal hip implant website that, “Patients who receive a metal on metal hip implant should also pay close attention to changes in their general health or new symptoms outside their hip including symptoms related to their:

• Heart (chest pain, shortness of breath)
• Nerves (numbness, weakness, change in vision or hearing)
• Thyroid (fatigue, feeling cold, weight gain)
• Kidney (change in urination habits)

If you or a loved one have received a recalled DePuy ASR hip implant and are experiencing side effects, contact a DePuy ASR hip implant recall attorney from Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A. today. You may be entitled to financial compensation for damages, lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Our attorneys have over 250 years combined legal experience. Let our experience work for you.

DePuy ASR Hip Implants Linked to Cobaltism (Cobalt Poisoning)

On September 16, 2010, DePuy released an “Information for Patients” package. One paragraph stated, “Your hip implant is made up of ball and socket components that move against each other. These components are made of metal that wears over time and generates very small particles that can only be seen with a microscope. This is an expected process. Different people respond to the particles in different ways. A small number of patients may react to these particles, causing fluid to collect in the joint and in the muscles around the joint. While this condition may initially be painless, if left untreated, this reaction may cause pain and swelling around the joint and could damage some of the muscles, bones, and nerves around the hip.”

A metal-on-metal hip implant is made of chromium and cobalt. A recent article published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery has linked metal-on-metal hip implants to cobalt poisoning. The article describes two patients who developed cobalt poisoning after receiving DePuy ASR metal-on-metal hip implants. Both patients were from Alaska and described as “fit”, well, forty nine year old men. Two years after receiving the DePuy ASR metal-on-metal hip implants the patients experienced symptoms of cobaltism, which can include irritability, fatigue, tinnitus, hearing loss, headaches, loss of coordination, cognitive decline, and depression.

Contact a DePuy ASR Hip Implant Attorney

If you or a loved one have received a recalled DePuy hip implant and are experiencing side effects, contact a DePuy ASR hip implant recall attorney from Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A. today. You may be entitled to financial compensation for damages, lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. We are real trial attorneys who will fight for your rights to just and fair compensation.