DePuy hip articular surface replacement (ASR) implant devices—the ASR Hip Resurfacing System and the ASR XL Acetabular System—which have been implanted in about 93,000 patients, were recalled in August 2010 following very high failure rates and ongoing reports of patients experiencing pain, discomfort, and problems with flexibility and walking.  A design flaw in how the metal hip cup was created, in which the interior is insufficient to hold the hip's femoral portion, appears to be to blame.

"The defendants were aware of many complaints made to the Food and Drug Administration in the United States and Health Canada regarding the failure of the DePuy implants. These complaints included component loosening, misalignment, dislocation and fracture, and the creation of abnormal or excessive metal debris in the hip socket. This metal debris could spread to surrounding tissue, causing severe inflammation and damage. The failure of the DePuy implants often requires complicated, expensive and painful revision surgery to correct," alleged one Canadian plaintiff, Jo-Anne Scharf, in her lawsuit against the device maker, quoted the Chronicle Herald.

In addition to defect issues, DePuy did not maintain appropriate records of patients implanted with their faulty devices and, worse, has recently been found to be attending revision surgeries, possibly taking removed devices from operating rooms. Meanwhile, nearly half of all DePuy hip replacement patients have not been contacted by their surgeons, which means that many patients may be suffering the effects of defective implants unaware they may require revision surgery, a long and dangerous reimplantation on a joint that has less bone to work with due to what was removed for the original surgery.

If you or someone you know has been implanted with one of these defective devices, you should seek the advice of an attorney familar with the litigation against DePuy Orthopaedics.  If you have been implanted with one of these defective devices, you should immediately seek advice from a lawyer that is knowledgeable about the DePuy hip implant recall and the injuries associated with these hip implants. For a free consultation with such an attorney, complete the form to the right or call 212-566-1000.  Based in New York City, Sullivan & Brill, LLP represents clients throughout the United States.