The DePuy ASR hip system was originally designed to obtain maximum mobility of the hip joint. Unfortunately, due to a design flaw, the acetabular cup fails to distribute fully the forces of the ball (femoral head) against the cup. This leads to a concentration of forces, called “edge loading”.

Due to its defective design, some patients must have their artificial DePuy hip prosthesis removed and a new one implanted – a painful and potentially dangerous scenario.

Further, patients have experienced wear and tear caused by the metal ball rubbing against the metal cup. As a result, metal shards from the hardware are released into the body. A superior design would involve a metal ball inside of a plastic cup.

Patients have experienced the following injuries:

  1. Loosening of the hardware
  2. Additional surgery to remove and replace the artificial hip
  3. Release of metal ions into the body (cobalt and chromium), resulting in disease to both the immediate area and to the entire body

Correcting these issues often requires dangerous hip revisions surgery. This involves removal of the DePuy hardware and insertion of new hardware. Revision surgery is often more extensive than the initial hip replacement, and some patients require further surgeries beyond the revisions.

In response to these problems. DePuy issued a voluntary recall on August 24, 2010.

Not all DePuy implants are defective. DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson, is a major supplier of hip implants and has made other satisfactory models of artificial hips.

The following DePuy artificial hips are recognized as defective:

  1. ASR XL Acetabular System – distributed worldwide
  2. ASR Hip Resurfacing System – licensed outside of the United States only

If any of the following conditions apply, you should consult an attorney immediately:

  • You are experiencing pain and other illnesses connected to your DePuy hip implant
  • You have been told by your orthopedist that your problems are caused by a defective DePuy hip
  • You are scheduled for, or are contemplating, hip revision surgery
  • You have had your DePuy device removed and have undergone a full hip revision

If DePuy has contacted you and has offered to pay for a hip replacement, we strongly urge that you contact an attorney immediately. We do not recommend that you allow DePuy to take custody of the defective hip joint.

As with all cases we urge clients to contact an attorney immediately so that there is no issue as to the timeliness of commencing suit.

Please contact us today for a free consultation.