DePuy Orthopedics, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson, has voluntarily recalled two more faulty hip implants after a staggering number of patients were forced to undergo a secondary, revisionary surgery as a result of implant failure and premature deterioration of the implant material. This recall may affect up to 93,000 patients worldwide who would have been implanted with one of 23 various models of these defective implants. This recall is one of several recently issued by the healthcare products conglomerate. It is now one of 11 total recalls since 9/09, leading to some serious questions about the companies quality control.
A spokesperson for the DePuy has advised that any patient who has receive an ASR XL Acetabular System or the ASR Hip Resurfacing System should consult with their surgeon for immediate evaluation of the device's performance, and for enhanced monitoring.
The hip systems consist of metal ball and socket components - the socket portion is at the outer edge of the pelvis and the ball portions atop the femur, which fits into the socket. The components wear over time and they move against each other, causing microscopic metallic particles to break away from the devices. Some patients have experienced inflammatory reactions to these metal shavings. One cause of this can be a phenomenon known as metallosis, which is generally thought of medical condition involving deposition and build-up of metallic debris in the soft tissues of the body. Metallosis has been hypothesized to occur when metallic components in medical implants, specifically joint replacements, abrade against one another. Those who reported adverse reactions and underwent surgical intervention reported symptoms such as pain, swelling, and difficulty walking. While these symptoms are considered normal for patients who have recently received a hip replacement, they can also signal a problem when the symptoms worsen over time. 
According to DePuy's website, prolonged complaints of these symptoms may be a sign of a loosening of the hardware ( when the implant does not stay attached to the bone in the correct position), fracture ( where the bone around the implant may have broken, or dislocation ( where the two parts of the implant that move against each other are no longer aligned).
Approximately one in eight patients implanted with ASR products have required corrective surgery within the first five years after the initial implant. According to the National Joint Registry of England and Wales, the failure rates of 13% and 12% respectively are about twice the industry average for similar medical devices.
In recent months, a number of lawsuits have been filed over faulty DePuy hip implants. Hummer Law Offices is proud to represent clients who have suffered injuries as a result of a defective DePuy hip implant, and other defective medical products and drugs.
Home | Contact Us | Meet Our Staff | Dow Breast Implants | DePuy Hip Implants | Kugel Hernia Mesh | Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella | Sitemap