DePuy Hip Implant

The DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System total hip replacement and ASR Hip Resurfacing System have been used in more than 93,000 hip replacement surgeries worldwide since they were first approval by the FDA in 2003.

Despite the hip devices' marketed success, DePuy Orthopaedics, the division of Johnson & Johnson that manufactures the implants, issued a recall in August 2010 of the DePuy ASR hip systems, citing a higher-than-normal failure rate of the devices.

DePuy ASR Complications

The DePuy ASR ball-and-socket hip implant has been the subject of much controversy in recent years, as many patients have experienced serious side effects from the devices.

Many doctors believe that the cup of the DePuy ASR hip implant is too shallow. This design flaw can lead to improper implantation and other health complications, including loosening of the hip implant within the body and "metallosis," a condition caused by movement of the implant which may result in the release of higher, potentially dangerous levels of chromium and cobalt ions into the body.

Since 2008, the FDA has received more than 300 complaints of problems with the implants, including:

• Loose hip cups
• Hip dislocations
• Bone fractures
• Pseudotumors from metal debris
• Allergic reactions
• Permanent muscle and tissue damage

DePuy Litigation

Hip implants are generally expected to last up to 15 years, but many patients have reported that the DePuy implant systems are failing after just two or three years, requiring expensive and painful second surgeries to have the implant replaced.

Though DePuy is providing some compensation to patients following the recall of the ASR devices, the compensation may not cover expenses incurred following hip replacement surgery and does not cover many diagnostic tests or blood tests that may be required to ensure a patient is healthy and to check for "metallosis." The assistance provided by DePuy also may not cover pain and suffering, lost wages and loss of earning capacity.

If you received the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System or ASR Hip Resurfacing System, you may have received correspondence from DePuy regarding the recall of these devices. Prior to seeing a doctor and signing any paperwork provided by DePuy and/or Johnson & Johnson, you may wish to speak with a lawyer about your rights. Patients who sign documents from DePuy may be signing a waiver, which may prevent them from receiving any additional compensation from the company, should medical complications surface in the future.

Many patients who received the DePuy ASR devices are contacting a lawyer to learn about their legal options. By filling out the form on this page, you will receive information about the lawsuits currently filed against DePuy Orthopaedics. Additional information regarding compensation for current or future medical expenses associated with the hip implant will also be provided.