DePuy ASR Hip Replacement Lawsuits Claim Device is Defective, Prone to Failure

Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., a unit of Johnson & Johnson, since the company recalled nearly 93,000 ASR hip replacements in August 2010 due to a high failure rate. These suits allege DePuy’s ASR XL Acetabular System and ASR Hip Resurfacing System are defective, put patients at risk for metal toxicity, and fail prematurely, necessitating an expensive second surgery to replace the device. Reports have surfaced that Johnson & Johnson has agreed to a $2.5 billion settlement to resolve nearly 8,000 of these cases.

Why Are People Filing Lawsuits Over the DePuy Hip Implants?

In most cases, defective medical device lawsuits are filed when the product contains a design, manufacturing, and/or marketing defect (e.g., when a manufacturer fails to warn patients and doctors about the device’s potential risks.) These suits seek to recover compensation for economic and non-economic losses that patients incurred as a result of the defective product.

Patients who underwent hip arthroplasty with a recalled ASR device are seeking compensation for medical bills, including the cost of revision surgery, pain and suffering, lost wages and other damages. Their lawsuits allege that:

• The ASR hip replacement was not adequately tested before being placed on the market
• DePuy violated FDA laws by aggressively marketing the device for use in ASR surgeries
• Despite its knowledge that the ASR hip was defective and led to hundreds of premature failures, DePuy continued to market and sell the device
• DePuy knowingly concealed the known defect from patients and doctors and misrepresented that the ASR systems were safe and effective

Metallosis, Hip Implant Failure Cited in DePuy Hip Lawsuits

Lawsuits involving the DePuy ASR hip replacements claim that, due to a design flaw, patients have suffered serious injuries that include metal toxicity and hip implant failure. Unlike traditional hip implants that utilize a plastic-on-metal design, the ASR hip systems contain a metal ball and metal socket. When the two metal components rub against each other during normal movement, small metal particles are released into the space surrounding the implant, some of which will enter the patient’s bloodstream, the suits claim. This can lead to bone and tissue damage, which can cause implant loosening, pain, premature failure of the device, and the need for revision surgery.

Furthermore, it has been alleged that excessive levels of cobalt have been found in patients with the metal-on-metal devices. Cobaltism can lead to a number of adverse conditions including, but not limited to, the following:

• Vertigo
• Deafness
• Blindness
• Hypothyroidism
• Optic nerve damage
• Tinnitus
• Cardiomyopathy
• Peripheral neuropathy

How Much Does A Lawyer Cost?

Most attorneys handling lawsuits involving DePuy’s ASR devices work on a contingency fee basis. In other words, the client will only have to pay his or her lawyer if the case results in a monetary recovery. Typically, the attorney will collect one-third of the settlement or jury verdict, which may include compensation for medical bills and pain and suffering. If the suit is not successful, most attorneys will not charge for any work done on the case.

Timeline of the DePuy ASR Litigation

DePuy Issues Recall of 93,000 ASR Hip Replacements

In August 2010, DePuy announced that it would be recalling 93,000 ASR hip implants worldwide after research from the UK indicated a higher-than-expected failure rate. Data revealed that approximately 12 percent of patients with the ASR resurfacing device and 13 percent of patients with the ASR total hip replacement required revision surgery within five years of the devices’ implantation. According to DePuy, patients who needed revision surgery to replace their existing hip implants experienced a number of problems, including pain, swelling, and difficulty walking, prior to their procedures. These symptoms, the recall indicated, may have been caused by the loosening or dislocation of the implant, or the fracture of the bone surrounding the device.

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