Depuy Hip Lawsuit
Depuy Hip Lawsuit Compensation
Depuy Hip Lawsuit

Depuy Hip Lawsuit

If you have had a DePuy hip replacement since July 2003, it is vital that you contact a DePuy hip lawsuit specialist to discuss your rights and whether you may be eligible for compensation. A DePuy hip lawsuit attorney from D. Miller & Associates, PLLC will fight for your compensation every step of the way.

depuy hip lawsuit

Depuy Hip Lawsuit Filed By Patients

The DePuy hip lawsuit has been filed for patients that have been fitted with the defective hip replacements ASR, ASR XL and Pinnacle. The defective hip replacements have been in use since 2003 for approximately 93,000 patients worldwide. The DePuy ASR system consists of ASR acetabular cups for hip resurfacing or total hip replacement, the ASR surface replacement heads for hip resurfacing, and the ASR XL femoral heads for total hip replacement. The DePuy Pinnacle system is a metal-on-metal design that is very similar to the ASR system but has not as yet been recalled even though many patients have required additional surgery to repair the DePuy Pinnacle due to loosening or the implant coming out of position.

Depuy Hip Lawsuit Recall Notice

DePuy Orthopaedics issued a recall in August 2010 on the defective ASR hip replacements which are the subject of the DePuy hip lawsuit. The Indiana-based company which is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson announced the recall after reviewing a study published by the National Joint Registry of England and Wales (NJR). The NJR was set up by the Department of Health and Welsh Assembly Government to collect information of all joint replacement operations and monitor the performance of the implants. The study indicated that the revision rate for the ASR system was higher than should be expected across the entire size range. The DePuy hip lawsuit was issued due to the failure rate of 12-13% and that women were at a higher risk to require additional surgery than men. This is because the risk is highest for DePuy hip lawsuit patients that are of small stature or have weak bones. Failure of the DePuy hip lawsuit devices require that the patient endure replacement or revision surgery much sooner than should be expected. These DePuy hip lawsuit devices were under scrutiny because they were in a category of implants known as metal-on-metal bearings. Implants in this category can accumulate debris from wear and tear which might cause inflammation and tissue damage.

Depuy Hip Lawsuit Look For These Symptomes

Some of the patients in the DePuy hip lawsuit have complained of experiencing pain, swelling, loss of mobility, trouble climbing steps, and difficulty in getting in and out of vehicles and chairs. For some of the men and women in the DePuy hip lawsuit, the pain and suffering is similar to or worse than what they had experienced prior to receiving the DePuy hip lawsuit devices. These symptoms may indicate that the DePuy hip implants have loosened or have become dislocated in the hip. In serious cases, the bones surrounding the implant may become fractured. Some patients have also developed a condition called osteolysis. This is caused by the DePuy hip lawsuit systems releasing high levels of metal ions which may cause a patient’s immune system to attempt to reabsorb pieces of their own bones as well as tissue damage and pseudotumors. Any of the above symptoms may cause severe pain and require surgery to replace the DePuy hip lawsuit device implanted. The DePuy hip lawsuit implants have been known to fail after just a few years.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) demand for hip replacement surgery is growing and will increase by 174% in 2030. This means the pressure is definitely on for companies like DePuy to create and refine products to meet this demand. The DePuy website, www.depuy.com, states that the Pinnacle hip replacement has been on the market for only ten years but has been implanted in nearly one million patients worldwide. The ASR devices were implanted in approximately 93,000 men and women. It is recommended by both the NJR and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that if you have any of the Depuy hip lawsuit replacements to have more frequent monitoring by your physician and that you discuss the recall with your surgeon to determine if you may need revision or replacement surgery.

The experienced DePuy hip lawsuit attorneys at D. Miller & Associates, PLLC can get you the results you deserve and expect. The DePuy hip lawsuit attorneys are experts at helping you get compensation for your current and future wages lost, out of pocket expenses and the cost of hiring medical help. Let us defend you in your DePuy hip lawsuit as we continue to assist those that have misplaced their trust in companies that produce harmful products. Complete the contact form or call us at 1(866)483-2649 for a free legal evaluation. The law does limit your time to file a Depuy hip lawsuit so contact us today for your free consultation.

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Posted by - January 13, 2012 at 10:29 pm

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Depuy Hip Recall

Depuy Hip Recall The Following Systems

On August 26, 2010, DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. a division of Johnson & Johnson issued a DePuy Hip Recall for two defective hip replacements.

The recalled products are:

  • ASR XL Acetabular System: The ASR XL total hip replacement system made its debut in 2004. Tthe femoral stem prosthesis is inserted inside of the femur, the femoral head (or ball) connects to the stem and then fits inside the acetabulum”. (DePuy) The ASR XL device “is part of a class of large diameter, monoblock hip resurfacing and replacement devices that are often selected by surgeons for younger patients, who may benefit from a more stable device that can reduce the changes of dislocation after surgery.” (DePuy)

 

  • ASR Hip Resurfacing System: The ASR Hip Resurfacing System debuted in 2003. With this system,” a cap is placed over the natural femoral head, and the acetabulum is replaced with the one piece cup.” (DePuy)The DePuy hip recall was announced two years after the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began receiving complaints about DePuy metal-on-metal hip replacements. Medical centers had noticed a high rate of failure and complaints for the replacements which prompted the DePuy hip recall. Many patients required a second hip replacement after the company’s implants failed.

Depuy Hip Recall

Depuy Hip Recall Affects 90,000 people

Approximately 90,000 people worldwide have been implanted with one of the DePuy hip recall systems, and the manufacturer predicts that at least 30,000 have suffered complications (or will at some point in time).

Unfortunately, the only effective remedy is corrective surgery. The DePuy hip recall was initiated because data indicated that the metal-on-metal systems needed to be replaced at a rate more than twice the industry average. Any patients who have had a hip replacement surgery since 2003 may be subject to the DePuy recall.

Depuy Hip Recall Investigation

An investigation conducted by the National Joint Registry of England and Wales (NJR) of the DePuy ASR and ASR XL hip implant systems showed that patients who received either of these two devices faced a higher than normal failure rate.

The NJR study results indicated that 12 to 13 percent of DePuy hip recall patients required revision surgery within five years of their hip implant surgery. The study also showed that women who received ASR devices had a higher revision rate than men.

DePuy Hip Replacement Issues

The DePuy hip recall was ordered due to problems such as:

Loosening: When the implant does not stay attached to the bone in the correct position.
Fracture: When the bone around the implant may have broken.
Dislocation: When the new femoral head and the acetabulum are no longer aligned.

In addition the metal-on-metal DePuy hip implants may create high levels of metal ions which could cause tissue damage, pseudotumors and osteolysis which requires surgery to remove and replace the hip implant.

In some cases, the DePuy hip replacement implant failed after just a few years. The FDA has received over 300 complaints from people who have been implanted with the ASR DePuy hip implant since 2008. Patients have come forward to complain of loose DePuy ASR Acetabular Cups, which required revision surgery.

On July 22, 2008, there was a voluntary recall of another hip replacement system, the Zimmer Durom® Acetabular Component (“Durom Cup”) because the instructions for use/surgical technique instructions were inadequate.

Should You File a DePuy Hip Recall Lawsuit?

You may want to consider filing a DePuy Hip Recall lawsuit if your DePuy hip implants begin to cause you discomfort similar to the pain you experienced before you had the replacement surgery. You may be having trouble walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of cars and chairs.

The pain, stiffness and mobility problems may be indicating a number of device failure issues such as DePuy hip recall failure problems caused by the loosening of the hip implant components, from a fracture in the bones surrounding the implant, or dislocation of the hip implant.

You should consider contacting your medical professional if you are experiencing any of the above and you have a DePuy metal-on-metal hip implant. Many patients that develop problems with their DePuy hip recall devices may require revision surgery to repair the surface of the implants or replacement surgery. If you have replacement surgery, the surgeon will remove the DePuy hip recall implants and replace them with new devices.

Both of these procedures require painful post-surgical rehabilitation to restore strength and mobility.

If you have experienced complications from a DePuy hip recall implant, D. Miller & Associates, PLLC may be able to help you obtain compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering and other legal relief.

Our DePuy hip recall lawyers can help if you are experiencing discomfort from a DePuy ASR hip implant.

The law limits your time to file a DePuy hip recall lawsuit. Complete the form on this page for a free legal consultation or call us at 1(866) 483-2649.

D. Miller & Associates is a nationally known law firm with experience in personal injury cases such as the DePuy hip recall.

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Posted by - January 13, 2012 at 2:16 am

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DePuy Hip Lawyer

Why Do You Need A Depuy Hip Lawyer ?

If you have had a hip replacement, you may need a DePuy hip lawyer. On August 26, 2010, DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. officially recalled two defective hip implant systems, the ASR Hip Resurfacing System and the ASR XL Acetabular System. The recall was ordered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after receiving a high volume of complaints from patients that had received one of these defective DePuy hip implants. The New York Times* recently called the DePuy hip implant recall “The most widespread medical implant failure in decades.” After the recall, thousands of the estimated 93,000 all-metal hip replacement patients contacted a DePuy hip lawyer to find out if they may have a claim against the hip implant manufacturer. DePuy is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

The DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip System and DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System have a 12 to 13 percent chance of failing within five years based on data from the National Joint Registry of England and Wales. In some cases, the DePuy ASR hip replacements failed after just a few years. Hip replacements are typically expected to last around fifteen years. A DePuy hip lawyer can help you determine whether or not your hip replacement system is at risk. The ASR systems were recalled due to a flaw in the design which can cause excessive friction between the metal parts. As a result of this flaw, the DePuy hip replacement products can loosen, causing severe pain, tissue damage, and even degeneration of the hip bones. The design flaw can be responsible for friction between the metal hip replacement parts which may then introduce excess cobalt and chromium ions into the patient’s blood stream. The risk of complications with the defective hip implants is highest for those patients with small stature, such as women, and for patients with weak bones. Contact a DePuy hip lawyer if your replacement is causing you pain or if it has been replaced sooner than expected.

The recalled DePuy hip replacement systems can cause:

  • Pseudotumors – benign tumors made up of pus and scar tissue in response to the foreign object implanted in the body.
  • Osteolysis – thinning and weakened bones
  • Increased levels of cobalt or chromium in the blood – metal toxicity
  • Loosening or dislocation of the hip implant
  • Hip bone fracture or splintering
  • Inflamed joint which can complicate revision surgery

If a DePuy hip replacement patient develops the symptoms above it may be determined that the only treatment available to the patient is revision surgery (where the surfaces of the implants are surgically repaired) or replacement surgery (when the hip components are removed and replaced by new devices). Unfortunately, revision or replacement surgery is usually riskier and more complex than first time hip replacement surgery.

Contacting a DePuy hip lawyer will help you to obtain compensation from DePuy for your additional medical costs, lost wages and suffering. The DePuy metal-on-metal implants were faulty and in some cases the recalled implants have failed after just a few short years.

The DePuy Pinnacle Hip Replacement System

The Pinnacle hip replacement system was approved by the FDA in 2000 and is the predecessor to the recalled ASR and ASR XL systems. The two hip replacements systems, the Pinnacle and the ASR, are both metal-on-metal implants and are of similar design. While the Pinnacle has not yet been recalled, it is possible that a recall could be issued in the future. Patients that have received a Pinnacle device are also at risk for severe pain, loosening of the implant and metal toxicity. Because the Pinnacle is another all metal implant, many patients fitted with this system have had to endure painful revision surgery. The FDA has been evaluating this system as well as all other metal-on-metal hip replacement devices.

Up until the DePuy recall, metal-on-metal hip implants were used in almost one-third of the approx. 250,000 hip replacements done each year in the US.

It is important to be aware of symptoms of metal toxicity (metallosis) if you have received a metal-on-metal hip replacement. Effects of metallosis are not limited to the hip region only so it is important that you note any changes to your general health and speak with your medical professional if you have symptoms or changes in:

  • Heart (pain or shortness of breath)
  • Nerves (numbness or weakness)
  • Changes in vision or hearing
  • Thyroid (fatigue, weight gain)
  • Kidney (frequent urination or other changes)

depuy hip lawyer

Patients who have received a metal hip implant, especially the recalled DePuy systems or the metal-on-metal DePuy Pinnacle system, are encouraged to discuss the possibility of a lawsuit with a DePuy hip lawyer before it is too late to make a claim.

Contacting a DePuy Hip Lawyer

Because of the FDA ordered DePuy hip replacement recall, many patients are finding themselves wondering whether or not they may have a claim. A DePuy hip lawyer can help you evaluate your particular situation and help you determine whether or not you should file a lawsuit. At D. Miller & Associates, PLLC, a nationwide law firm dedicated to helping our clients receive justice, our experienced DePuy hip lawyer might claim that DePuy knew that there was a flaw in the design of the replacement. The DePuy hip lawyer will show how DePuy did not correct the flaw after they became aware of the problem. A DePuy hip lawyer is also likely to claim that DePuy failed to notify doctors or their patients in a timely manner that there is such a high risk of potential problems with their hip device.

Your Depuy Hip Lawyer

If you or someone you know has had a DePuy ASR, ASR XL, Pinnacle or other metal-on-metal hip device installed, please fill out the contact form on this page or call us at 1(866) 483-2649 for a free no-obligation evaluation of your case. The consultation is free and it is important to speak with a DePuy hip lawyer soon as the law does limit the time to file a DePuy hip replacement lawsuit.

Call us now and let us be your Depuy Hip Lawyer

 

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Posted by - January 12, 2012 at 1:34 am

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