DePuy ASR Hip Implant Recall Lawsuits Grow As Devices Fail

Thursday, 19 July 2012 12:44

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DePuy ASR Hip Implant Recall Lawsuits Grow As Devices Fail

By Kimberly Mirando

 

Another recipient of the recalled DePuy ASR hip replacement system has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson alleging the metal-on-metal hip implant caused complications. The Plaintiff is seeking damages for his pain and suffering and emotional distress, which he says were directly caused by the defective DePuy ASR hip implant involved in the recall. His DePuy hip implant lawsuit, filed July 16, 2012, joins dozens of other cases pending in the multidistrict litigation: In re: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. ASR Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2197). 

 

The Plaintiff alleges in the DePuy ASR lawsuit that he received the hip implant in September 2006 and subsequently experienced complications such as pain, snapping and popping. He claims he did not know the injuries he suffered were due to the defects of his DePuy ASR hip implant until the device was recalled. Johnson & Johnson issued a worldwide recall of 93,000 DePuy ASR hip devices in August 2010 after it was discovered that the parts in the metal-on-metal hip implant can shed metal ions after rubbing together, which may be absorbed into the bloodstream and local tissue, causing damage. Metal-on-Metal hip implant complications such as high failure rates, pseudotumors, soft tissue damage, metallosis, pain and swelling have been linked to the DePuy ASR and other metal-on-metal hip implants, leading to thousands of metal-on-metal hip implant lawsuits filed by patients throughout the country.

 

Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant Lawsuits Grow

 

The 2010 DePuy ASR hip implant recall opened the eyes of many patients who had been implanted with the defective devices but didn't know the complications they were experiencing were being caused by their DePuy ASR. This opened the door to hundreds of lawsuits as patients realized they deserved compensation for their pain and suffering, emotional distress, and medical expenses necessary to replace the defective devices. 

 

A recent study on metal-on-metal hip implant failures published in the medical journal Orthopedics found that 78% of patients investigated for the study required revision surgery to correct complications within two years, and 92.5% required revision surgery within three years. Furthermore, 13% of patients experienced significant soft tissue damage near the metal hip implant. Artificial hips are expected to last up to 15 years, which means metal-on-metal hip implants like the DePuy ASR are prematurely failing significantly early. Researchers concluded the study by saying, "Its imperative that clinicians be cognizant of the fact that the proposed advantages of metal-on-metal [hip implants] are not without potential detrimental sequelae" (i.e., a pathological condition resulting from a trauma or injury).

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration made a similar conclusion in June 2012 when it convened a panel of independent experts to discuss safety issues associated with metal-on-metal hip implants. The FDA panelists agreed that there is little reason to use metal-on-metal hip replacements amid growing evidence that the devices can break down early and expose patients to dangerous metallic particles. The FDA has received nearly 16,800 adverse event reports associated with all-metal hip implants from 2000 to 2011. The agency concluded the panel by recommending that patients with all-metal hip replacement devices undergo regular X-rays and blood screening for metal ions. 

 

Patients implanted with a DePuy ASR or other metal-on-metal hip implant device and have experienced complications should not suffer in silence. Free legal consultations to victims of metal-on-metal hip implant injuries is available through metal hip implant attorneys affiliated with Top Class Actions. These hip implant lawyers don't get paid unless you win or settle. 

 

If you would like more information about filing a DePuy ASR hip implant lawsuit or another metal-on-metal hip implant lawsuit, go to the Metal on Metal Hip Replacement Implant Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page. You can submit your information, or your loved one's, to hip implant attorneys who are actively investigating all claims regarding failed metal hip implants, cancer, tissue damage, pseudotumors, metallosis, and other symptoms of a defective metal-on-metal hip implant. Metal hip replacement attorneys are waiting to talk to you now and the consultation is free.

 

Updated July 19th, 2012

All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.

Last Updated on Thursday, 27 December 2012 11:09