8/26/2010: DePuy ASR Hip Implant Recall

DePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson, announced Thursday, August 26, 2010, it is recalling the ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System due to higher than expected rates of failures causing patients to undergo a second hip replacement procedure. The DePuy ASR Hip Implant System is a large diameter metal-on-metal system.  The ASR System has been sold worldwide since 2004 and sold in the United States since 2005.

 

According to DePuy, data shows that within five years, one in eight patients required a revision surgery, or a second hip replacement.  Problems leading to repeat hip replacement surgery include loosening of the parts, infections, fractures, dislocations, metal sensitivity and hip and leg pain. 

 

This recall comes over five months after the March 6, 2010 letter DePuy Orthopaedics sent to healthcare providers recognizing that Australian data showed a higher than expected failure rate of the ASR hip implant system.  The recall also comes more than eight months after the New York Times reported in a December 10, 2009 article that DePuy Orthopaedics stated the ASR System had a high early failure rate.

 

DePuy is encouraging patients to contact the company if they are having problems with their ASR Hip System.  Patients should be extremely careful about signing any documents before having them reviewed by an attorney.  Patients affected by this recall should also hire an attorney to assist them in preserving important evidence.

 

Houssiere, Durant & Houssiere, LLP has over thirty years experience in handling medical cases and working with medical device manufacturers to resolve these types of product liabilty cases.  The attorney's at Houssiere, Durant & Houssiere, LLP have developed their expertise in this field through extensive handling of hip implant failure cases including those regarding the ASR Hip System.

 

 

If you or a loved one has experienced problems with the ASR Hip System, contact us for a free consultation.