Depuy Implants – Why they are Defective

DePuy Hip Recall
People walk around on a daily basis to get from place to place. In order to walk, those people have to use their hips. That is why people with hip problems turn to hip implants to allow themselves to maneuver each day, pain-free. But thousands of people who opted for DePuy ASR hip implants, specifically the ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System, have actually found themselves with additional health issues rather than improved health. In fact, patients have suffered from cobalt and chromium poisoning and about one in eight patients have required revision surgeries to fix implants that failed within five years. The recall did not occur however, until after the sale of more than 93,000 units.

Background Information

The hip implants were not recalled until more than two years after the FDA first started receiving complaints about the failure of the DePuy ASR implants. But the complaints didn’t consist of just a few isolated instances. Since the start of 2008, the F.D.A. received about 400 complaints involving patients in the United States who received the devices.

The Recall and Injuries Indicative of a Defect

Finally, after more than two years of complaints and countless patients requiring corrective surgeries, the DePuy ASR hip implants were recalled. The implants are part of a category of implants called metal-on-metal bearings, which can generate debris from wear, causing inflammation and tissue damage in certain patients. In a number of patients, the implants have caused a condition known as metallosis. Metallosis is an occasional but characteristic clinical finding in patients who have a metal-on-metal design of total hip replacement. Potentially dangerous levels of chromium and cobalt ions are released into the body and can result in nerve damage and rashes. Metallosis can also require the need for corrective surgery.

In order to determine whether you may be suffering from a faulty ASR hip implant you can examine the symptoms and causes listed on DePuy’s website. The information from the website is provided below.

Symptoms
The patients who reported problems in the first five years and had revision surgery reported a variety of symptoms. These symptoms included pain, swelling and problems walking. These symptoms are normal if you have just had a hip replacement. If the symptoms continue or come back, it is a sign that there may be a problem.

The symptoms above might be caused by problems such as:

· Loosening – when the implant does not stay attached to the bone in the correct position

· Fracture – where the bone around the implant may have broken; and

· Dislocation – where the two parts of the implant that move against each other are no longer aligned.

Conclusion

Thousands of patients have been adversely affected by the defective ASR hip implants. It appears that DePuy may have waited too long to recall the faulty implants. It also appears that countless individuals not only haven’t seen their health improved as a result of the implants, but they have also had to undergo corrective surgery. DePuy has mentioned on its website that it intends to cover reasonable and customary costs of testing and treatment associated with the ASR recall, including revision surgery if it is necessary. But that statement is ambiguous and is likely little consolation for those patients who have experienced severe pain and suffering from the faulty implants. If you were one of the people injured there are remedies available. The time to seek those remedies is now.

Lastly, if you believe you have been injured please contact an attorney. A consultation with a Depuy Hip attorney is free and can provide some clarity and peace of mind for those who believe they may have been implanted with a Depuy Hip.