Additional Information
Filing a Pinnacle or DePuy ASR Hip Implant Lawsuit
DePuy Orthopaedics, owned by Johnson & Johnson, has issued a voluntary recall of its ASR hip implant devices. According to the company, the patient revision surgery rate is double that of the industry average. A new unpublished study from the National Joint Registry of England & Wales (NJR) discovered that one in eight patients who received the ASR hip implants required a second or revision surgery five years after they received the implant.
The recall comes amid a string of quality-control problems at the company’s non-prescription drug operations and includes the ASR XL Acetabular System and DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System. At least twelve to thirteen percent of patients who received the DePuy ASR hip implant devices have required a second surgery.
David Floyd, the president of DePuy Orthopaedics, said the company is committed to covering reasonable and customary costs associated with thei r custome rs’ revision surgeries. However, if you’re one of the 93,000 people who’ve had a DePuy ASR hip implant, you may be eligible to seek additional compensation because of the negligent design of the DePuy ASR hip implant device and the company’s failure to warn about the potential risks caused by the ASR hip device earlier. Compensation you might be eligible to seek includes medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering and more.
Patients have also reported similar complaints with the DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement. The Pinnacle replacement is made of a cup and a liner, instead of one solid piece of metal like the ASR. The Pinnacle design allows the femoral head to move more accurately within the socket. Although, DePuy has not issued a Pinnacle recall, patients experiencing problems with their Pinnacle hip replacement may also have legal options.
Contact the Simmons firm to speak with our understanding and experienced DePuy hip recall lawyers. These medical injury lawyers will evaluate your case, answer your questions and help you understand your legal rights, including filling a DePuy ASR or Pinnacle hip implant lawsuit.
What are DePuy ASR Hip Implants?
The ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System are both artificial hip implants manufactured by the DePuy Orthopaedics unit of Johnson & Johnson. The Hip Resurfacing System has been available since 2003 for use outside the United States, whereas the Acetabular system has been in use around the world since 2004. Then DePuy took both ASR hip implant devices off the market in 2009.
What are DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implants?
The Pinnacle Hip Replacement System is also manufactured by the DePuy Orthopaedics unit of Johnson & Johnson. The Pinnacle artificial hip replacement system was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2000. It has a ball and socket design that features several different types of surface designs including ceramic-onpolyethylene, ceramic-on-ceramic and metal-on-metal.
The various options for bearing surfaces was developed to allow surgeons and their patients to select a model according to the needs of the patient. The more durable the material, the more they were expected to withstand the wear and tear of younger patients.
However, like its sister product, the ASR replacement, the Pinnacle metal-on-metal model can cause the same dangerous conditions like hip pain, problems walking or standing, loosening of the replacement or metal poisoning.
Who is at risk?
The risk of DePuy hip failures were especially high in women followed by patients whose femoral head (or ball) is smaller than 50mm. In addition, both implants were popular with younger patients because the devices were supposed to reduce the chance of dislocation.
If you have received a DePuy ASR or Pinnacle hip implant, contact your orthopedic surgeon for an evaluation of the implant to determine whether it may be experiencing problems.
DePuy ASR Hip Implant Symptoms & Tests
The patients who reported problems in the first five years and had revision surgery reported a variety of symptoms. These symptoms included pain, swelling and problems walking. If your symptoms are persistent, it could be a sign of a more serious problem such as:
- Loosening caused when the implant does not stay attached to the bone
- Fracture(s) where the bone around the implant may have broken
- Dislocation caused when the two parts of the implant that move against each other become misaligned
The ASR Hip is made up of ball and socket components that move against each other. These metal components wear over time and release microscopic particles around the patient’s hip. Some patients react to these particles, causing fluid to collect in the joint and in the surrounding muscles. This condition could initially be painless. If left untreated, though, it may cause pain and swelling around the joint and could damage a person’s muscles, bones, and nerves in the area.
Even if you are not experiencing these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your surgeon if you have a DePuy ASR hip implant because the body’s reaction to the metal particles released by the hip implant device could be asymptomatic.
Tests will help your surgeon determine if your hip is working as it should and whether you are having a reaction to the metal particles. Your surgeon may take X-rays of your hip. Also, a blood test may be done to check the levels of metal particles around your hip. Your surgeon may also use an ultrasound or MRI to determine if you are having a reaction.
CONTACT THE SIMMONS FIRM
The Simmons firm handles many types of litigation including mesothelioma, commercial, intellectual property, pharmaceutical and defective medical devices. For more information or to ask any questions you have about filing a DePuy ASR or Pinnacle hip implant lawsuit, please contact our medical recall and injury lawyers or call 1-866-468-8631.
Resources for Clients
Hip Makers Told to Study More Data - N.Y. Times