Is your DePuy hip replacement painful?

“I had hip replacement surgery two years ago. I read that DePuy has recalled my hip replacement due to a defect and I may need a second surgery to replace the DePuy hip. Is this true? Can you help me?”

Recently, DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. (the orthopedic arm of Johnson & Johnson) issued a global recall of two of its hip implant devices. This recall targets the ASR™XL Acetabular System and the ASR™ Hip Resurfacing System. This recall of DePuy hip replacements follows a New York Times article on March 10, 2010, which revealed that DePuy had halted sales and issued an urgent safety notice for its DePuy ASR hip device systems.

Recently, the FDA issued a warning letter to DePuy for selling the DePuy ASR hip replacement and other joint products without the agency’s approval. DePuy sold around 93,000 of the DePuy Hip Replacement units.

The ASR hip implant system was especially marketed as a high-performance hip replacement for patients seeking continued active lifestyles.

If you or a loved one has had a DePuy ASR hip replacement device, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact Craig Swapp & Associates to learn how we can help you recover financially from this defective medical device. Please contact us immediately by calling toll free at 1-800-404-9000 or by submitting details of your case on-line.

DePuy ASR

The DePuy ASR™ Hip Replacement devices are metal-on-metal hip replacement systems. The natural hip joint is like a ball that fits in a socket. The socket portion of the hip is called the acetabulum. The femoral head at the top of the thigh bone (femur) rotates within the curved surface of the acetabulum. According to DePuy, the recalled hip DePuy ASR™ hip implants utilize a one-piece acetabular cup, which is a metal liner that replaces the acetabulum. With the recalled DePuy ASR XL Total Hip Replacement System, there are three components: 1) The femoral stem is inserted inside the femur 2). The femoral head (or ball) connects to the stem, and 3). The stem then fits inside the acetabulum.

The second recalled ASR hip device—the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System—utilizes two components: 1). A cap is placed over the natural femoral head and 2). The acetabulum is replaced with the one-piece cup.

The ASR device does not use cement to attach the metal parts to the bone; rather it relies on bone growth to fasten the hip replacement parts to the bone. It is believed that this design is flawed and increases the likelihood of the hip replacement loosening and may cause a number of painful symptoms for the patient.

The ASR devices were first marketed in 2003 and have been available to orthopedic surgeons until DePuy’s general recall in August 2010.

The DePuy ASR Recall

On August 26, 2010, DePuy announced a general recall of its ASR hip replacement system. Data received by the company shows that more people than expected who received the DePuy ASR hip replacement system experienced a failure of the device that led to a second hip replacement surgery. Information showed that five years after the DePuy ASR implantation, approximately 12 to 13% of patients (or 1 in 8) who had received the DePuy ASR™ resurfacing device experienced some type of failure and needed a second surgery. Because normal hip replacement surgery has a 5% failure rate, this means that the ASR devices have double the industry average of failure.

This recall means that monitoring and testing of DePuy ASR™ Hip Replacement may be necessary of individuals who have been implanted with either of the DePuy ASR Hip Systems.

DePuy first recalled the product in Australia in 2009, followed by a general recall in 2010. There is emerging evidence that DePuy may have been aware of the problems well before the recall was issued.

Currently, reports indicate that Johnson & Johnson may pay for medical expenses associated with a second surgery to replace the ASR system. However, it is important to understand that Johnson & Johnson is not offering to compensate patients for lost income, future medical issues related to the faulty hip replacement, or the pain and inconvenience associated with suffering through another hip surgery.

Did you have a DePuy ASR Hip Replacement?

If you are uncertain if you have either of the recalled DePuy Hip Systems, contact your orthopedic surgeon immediately. Your primary care physician or the hospital where the surgery took place should be able to provide you with the name of your surgeon if you can’t recall who performed the original surgery.

Once you’ve determined that you’ve received a DePuy ASR hip replacement device, contact Craig Swapp & Associates immediately for a FREE, no-obligation consultation. Call us at 1-800-404-9000 or submit details of your situation to us using our convenient on-line form.

Symptoms of DePuy ASR Hip Failure

Due to a design flaw, the DePuy ASR hip replacement devices may loosen when the implant does not stay attached to the bone. The Implant may also dislocate, which occurs where two parts of the implant that move against each other are no longer aligned. The bone around the implant may eventually break, causing a fracture of the hip bone.

If any of the above failures occur, the patient could possibly experience any number of painful or annoying symptoms:

Unexplained hip pain
Thigh pain or groin pain
Pain when walking
Pain rising from a seated position
Hip pain when bearing weight
Limping
Pain to the opposite hip or femur (due to the compensation to the failed hip replacement)
Crunching sound during hip movement

The defects associated with the DePuy ASR™ Hip Replacement system may lead to the necessity of a second hip replacement surgery, known as a revision surgery. DePuy advises that regardless of whether you are suffering from the above symptoms, you should schedule a follow-up appointment with your surgeon as soon as possible.

Is your DePuy hip replacement painful?

DePuy ASR

The DePuy ASR Recall

Did you have a DePuy ASR Hip Replacement?

Symptoms of DePuy ASR Hip Failure

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