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.

 

 

 

Gas explosions and chemical plant explosions exact a devastating toll on the communities and families impacted.  For those who have been injured or for families who have experienced the loss of a loved one in an explosion, life will never be the same.  While handling the devastating injuries, families may experience the loss of their primary income.  For communities impacted by an explosion, there begins a slow rebuilding process. Often businesses must shut down for a period for repairs to their facilities while homeowners may have to be relocated while their homes are repaired.

 

The firm of Houssiere, Durant & Houssiere, LLP has experience in helping those whose lives have been impacted by an explosion obtain justice. In 2005, a chemical plant located in Houston, Texas exploded causing injuries and property damage to nearby residents.  Attorneys Charles R. Houssiere, III and Monica C. Vaughan successfully represented residents in a lawsuit against the owners and operators of the plant.

 

If you have been injured or damaged by a gas explosion or plant explosion, the attorneys of Houssiere, Durant & Houssiere, LLP can help you determine whether the explosion was caused by the negligence of anyone and help you obtain justice from those responsible.  Contact our offices at (713) 626-3700 for a free consultation or fill out our on line questionnaire and someone will contact you.

Baxter International is recalling its Colleague infusion pumps from the American market under an agreement with federal regulators that sought to fix problems like battery failures and software errors, according to a report in The New York Times. The article goes on to state that the Food and Drug Administration said on April 23 that infusion pumps used to administer drugs and liquids were linked to more than 56,000 complaints of injuries, deaths and malfunctions from 2005 to 2009. "There are just under 200,000 of these pumps in use" at hospitals and other medical facilities, a Baxter spokeswoman said on Monday. Bob Parkinson, Baxter’s chaiman and chief executive, said "the situation has languished far beyond what it should have," when speaking to shareholders on May 5, 2010.

Infusion pumps are devices most commonly found in hospitals, delivering fluids, medicine and nutritional liquids via a timing mechanism that controls the amount of medication a patient receives.

The Los Angeles Times reports that by the end of last week, the FDA had rejected Baxter’s corrective action plan for the Colleague pumps. The agency called the plan "unacceptable." The FDA said Baxter must "recall and destroy" all of its Colleague pumps, saying the action was based on "a long-standing failure" of the company to correct serious problems with them.

Please contact Houssiere, Durant & Houssiere if you or a loved one believe you have been injured by this product

More about in fusion pumps:  http://hdhtex.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14:medtronic-minimed-quick-set-paradigm-infusion-pump-recalled&catid=4:medical&Itemid=12

Minimally invasive total knee replacement, such as Zimmer’s Nexgen MIS Knee Implants, involving a smaller incision than standard knee replacement surgery, have recently been questioned by orthopedic surgeons at the American Association of Orthopedic Surgery’s Annual Meeting 2009.

Volkswagen Brake Light and Turn Signal Recalls Affect More than 1,000,000 Vehicles In 2006, Volkswagen recalled roughly 362,000 Jettas and New Beetle sedans due to incorrectly installed exterior lights. According to media reports, Volkswagen initiated the recall because of the obvious dangers associated with malfunctioning brake and turn signals, including an increased risk of unanticipated collision due to improper signaling.. Reports indicate that the lights may remain on, or may even completely fail while driving. The following year, in 2007, Volkswagen recalled around 790,000 vehicles because of similar problems with the brake lights. The newer recall affects the following vehicles (click here for more detailed information)

 Make/Model Year

Volkswagen / Golf 1999-2006

Volkswagen / GTI 1999-2006

Volkswagen / Jetta 2001-2005

Volkswagen / New Beetle 2001-2007

Volkswagen / Passat 2003-2005

Volkswagen / R32 2004?

The latter recall began on April 27, 2007, and was carried out through several mass mailings to consumers around September 2007. Volkswagen dealers announced that they would install the newly designed brake lights free of charge. Due to the high number of vehicles affected by the Volkswagen recalls, some defective Volkswagens may still be on the road, and may still pose significant safety risks to other drivers. The recall report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers more specific information regarding the defective exterior lights surrounding the Volkswagen recalls.

 

If you or someone you know has been injured or has experienced damage to your vehicle as a result of a faulty Volkswagen brake light or turn signal system, you may be entitled to recover your damages. The automotive recall attorneys at Houssiere, Durant & Houssiere, L.L.P. urge you to contact one of their experienced attorneys for a free consultation. The recall attorneys at HDH have successfully represented injured automobile consumers for decades. Please visit our website, or call 1-888-881-8100 for a free consultation, or for more information regarding the Volkswagen recalls described in this article. Owners may also contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987 for more information.

According to a report from US Recall News, BMW is recalling certain model year 2010 X5 and X6 sport activity vehicles manufactured between December 14, 2009 and December 16, 2009. The recall comes as a result of insufficient bonding in the upper right corner of the cars’ windshields. According to the report, defective bonding could compromise the stability of the roof in case of a rollover, increasing the risk of severe injuries. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117 for more information. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236, or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

To determine whether your car is affected by an automobile recall, you may go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website to enter your vehicle identification number (VIN).

If you have been injured as a result of these defective minivans, you may have the right to recover damages. The BMW recall attorneys at Houssiere, Durant & Houssiere, L.L.P. are offering free consultations to automobile consumers who have been affected by the recent BMW recalls. Our automotive recall attorneys have decades of experience in representing injured automobile consumers. If you have been affected by the recent recalls initiated by BMW, the attorneys at Houssiere, Durant & Houssiere, L.L.P. urge you to contact one of their recall attorneys for a free consultation. Please call us at 1-888-881-8100, or visit our website for more information.

BMW is recalling certain F 650 GS and F 800 GS motorcycles from the 2008 and 2010 model years. According to the motorcycle recall report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), these models have an increased risk of stalling, which may lead to destructive collisions on the roadways. The defective motorcycles were manufactured between January 2008 and December 2009. According to the report, the problem occurs during engine operation, and is the result of water leakage from a defective ventilation hose, which contaminates the air compressor, causing the motorcycle to shut off. Media reports confirm nearly 5,000 vehicles may potentially be affected by this motorcycle recall. Consumers are urged to contact their dealers, who will inspect the hose and replace free of charge if necessary. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117 for more information. To determine whether your vehicle is affected by a recall, you may also go to the national Office of Defects Investigation’s website to enter your vehicle’s identification number (VIN) for confirmation.

The motorcycle recall attorneys at Houssiere, Durant & Houssiere are offering free consultations to consumers who believe they may have been injured as a result of the recent BMW motorcycle recalls. Please visit our website for more details, or call 1-888-881-8100 for a free consultation.

 

Volkswagen is recalling nearly 16,000 of its Routan minivans due to fire hazards created by a faulty sliding door mechanism, according to recent media reports. The recall affects only 2009 models made between June 2008 and July 2009. The minivans were jointly developed with Chrysler LLC, who recently announced a similar recall of nearly 285,000 Grand Caravans and Town & Country minivans. According to reports, an improperly placed wire within the sliding door creates a risk of overheating after excessive use. Similar defects prompted Chrysler to recall its minivans earlier this month. Both the Volkswagen and Chrylser models were made in the same facility, with nearly identical modeling specs.

CBS News reports that Volkswagen was aware of "a couple of incidents" involving overheating in the minivans. Volkswagen is working with Chrysler to uncover the full extent of the danger, and whether further recalls will be necessary. Volkswagen will inspect the wire assembly of affected vehicles and will repair/replace the assembly free of charge when necessary. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987 for more information.

If you have been injured as a result of these defective minivans, you may have the right to recover your damages. The Volkswagen recall attorneys at Houssiere, Durant & Houssiere, L.L.P. are offering free consultations to automobile consumers who have been affected by the recent minivan recalls. Our auto recall attorneys have decades of experience in representing injured automobile consumers. If you have been affected by the recent minivan recalls initiated by Chrysler or Volkswagen, the attorneys at Houssiere, Durant & Houssiere, L.L.P. urge you to contact one of their recall attorneys for a free consultation.