The Depuy Recall
On August 24,2010 a volunteer hip replacement recall was issued by Depuy Orthopedics,a division of Johnson and Johnson.The ASR XL Acetabular metal-on-metal hip replacement system has shown to have a 13% failure rate within the first 5 years.Regardless if replaced,there is a big possibility that metal fragments break loose in the body that many times go a long time undetected.As a result, dislocation,bone fracture,infection,nerve damage,muscle damage,bone staining,tissue damage,swelling and increased metal ion levels in the bloodstream are all possible threats.
Curiously, the FDA had given special clearance to Dupuy to make the hip replacement system available to the public without first performing any clinical trials back in 2005.The first Depuy lawsuit was filed over a year and a half before the Depuy recall was announced comfirming many expert's opinion of thinking the Depuy recall should have been issued much sooner.
Depuy actually denied any problems occurring with the product while at the same time warning doctors about the high failure rate in the beginning of 2010.The only thing they claimed was that they were likely to discontinue production if sales continued to decline and any rumor being spread about them issuing a recall were false.They also kept silent the Australian registry data that showed a high failure rate.Johnson and Johnson have had many recalls issued this year alone.Still fresh in the public memory is the incident of them paying off doctors undisclosed amounts of money that became a huge scandal.
The first of the hip replacement lawsuits to be filed in the United States against Johnson and Johnson was on July 15,2010.Claims in the lawsuit accuse the company of being well aware of the flaws in the design causing it to be defective but yet never letting doctors or patients know.Worldwide 93,000 patients underwent surgery receiving the recalled Depuy ASR XL Acetablar metel on metel hip replacement system.
With a 1 out of 8 fail rate and several class action lawsuits already filed,Johnson and Johnson may have lawsuits against them numbered in the thousands.On November 18,2010 The United States Judicial Panel on Multi District Litigation has scheduled a meeting to make a decision on the lawsuits filed.
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DePuy Hip Replacement Lawsuits
DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of the well-known Johnson & Johnson Company, has issued a recall of its ASR hip replacement and implant systems. The ASR Hip Resurfacing System and ASR XL Acetabular Hip System are both part of this hip replacement recall. These two DePuy products have been available since July of 2003, so anyone who has had implant surgery before that date is not affected by the hip recall.
In general, hip implants should last for over a decade. In the case of the ASR hip replacement systems, many people have experienced problems within the first five years of receiving the implant. Over 90,000 people have received one of the DePuy implants, and roughly 12,000 of those recipients may have to undergo a second surgery because of a breakdown of the implant. DePuy representatives have stated that approximately 12-13% of the patients who received each of the ASR implants experienced negative symptoms and required a revision surgery. Because of these numbers, the DePuy recall was put into effect.
The ASR hip replacement system uses metal devices that touch other metal parts. The two metal parts then rub together. This creates small metal pieces that can enter the recipient’s bloodstream. This type of metal toxicity can cause serious complications to anyone who has received an ASR implant.
The DePuy company has stated that any individual who underwent hip surgery after July 2003 should determine what type of implant was used. DePuy representatives have indicated that additional testing may be required to determine if the hip implant is working properly. Individuals with the ASR implants will need to be monitored for metal toxicity regardless of whether or not any negative symptoms have been experienced. Symptoms may include severe pain, swelling, and problems with mobility.
Many people who have been affected by the hip replacement recall may need painful and costly surgeries. Although the DePuy company claims that it will cover any reasonable expenses related to the recall, there are some conditions that many people may not wish to agree to. These conditions include having to submit all medical records to DePuy and relinquishing the faulty implant back to the company. Many people feel these are unsatisfactory and unfair terms. This has caused a number of people to initiate a DePuy hip replacement lawsuit.
A DePuy lawsuit can ensure that those affected by the implant recall can receive the necessary compensation. Many people believe that the manufacturers of these hip replacement systems failed to give ample and timely warnings about the defects. This lack of information has caused numerous people to initiate DePuy lawsuits.
The ASR hip replacement recall has caused complications for a growing number of people. The company has recently become the subject of countless lawsuits. Anyone who has received a faulty ASR hip implant may be compensated for any out of pocket expenses related to the recall. A DePuy lawsuit lawyer can assist individuals who do not know where to begin and who want to successfully resolve their issues.
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