In 2005, DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson, began marketing the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip Replacement System. While the implants were expected to last for 15 - 20 years, nevertheless, by 2008, the FDA had received more than 300 reports of problems with the hip implant, most involving premature failure that required revision surgery. On March 6, 2010, DePuy warned doctors that a recent report from Australia indicated that the ASR had a higher-than-expected failure rate. On August 26, 2010, DePuy issued a worldwide recall for the ASR implants after additional studies showed that approximately 12% of patients (one in eight) who had received the DePuy ASR total hip replacement needed to have a second surgery within five years.

The DePuy ASR hip implant is a metal-on-metal device made of chromium and cobalt. The implant consists of a cup that is implanted into the pelvis and a ball joint that is implanted into the femur (thigh bone). Numerous complications have been associated with ASR implants including component loosening, component mal-alignment, infection, fracture of the bone, nerve damage, tissue damage, and increased metal ions in the blood (metallosis). Many of the complications linked to the ASR implant are believed to be caused by excessive loading on the metal components which causes metal shavings to breakdown into the patient’s body. These metal shavings can cause cobalt poisoning, which can lead to tissue breakdown, bone loss and non-cancerous tumors. Additionally, cobalt poisoning can cause tinnitus, dizziness, optic nerve atrophy and blindness.

If you received a defective DePuy hip implant, please contact me, lawyer Richard Langerman, to arrange a free consultation and case evaluation. You will pay no attorney fees unless I recover financial compensation in your products liability claim.