A settlement reached following a DePuy ASR recall could affect thousands of persons who have undergone hip replacement surgery.

Patients who have undergone a hip revision surgery since March 2015 because of the allegedly defective Johnson & Johnson DePuy ASR metal-on-metal hip implant system could have a legal claim.

A variety of serious adverse side effects have led to hip revision surgery for those with hip implant parts covered by the DePuy ASR recall.

DePuy’s metal-on-metal hip system allows dissimilar metals to work against each other. In some patients, this design has led to tiny metal shavings fretting away and settling into nearby tissue. These pieces of metal are made of chromium and cobalt, which can leach metal ions into the blood stream, causing metallosis (metal poisoning).

Metals in the blood can lead to degenerative heart disease or cardiomyopathy, which is a heart disease that causes the heart to become enlarged or rigid. The metal poisoning also can cause impaired kidney function and thyroid dysfunction.

Cobalt and chromium fragments also can settle into and irritate tissue to the point the tissue dies or instigates a non-cancerous tumor around the hip implant. Hip dislocation and the complete failure of the metal-on-metal hip implant system result in a need for revision surgery.

ASR DePuy Recall Mimics DePuy Pinnacle Recall

The ASR DePuy recall draws attention to many of the same adverse effects that were associated with DePuy’s Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip implant system. Among the common indications of device failure are:

• Pain while moving or walking
• Swelling in the hip or groin area
• Lumps near the hip
• Dislocation, or feeling the joint has slipped out of place
• Squeaking or popping noises while moving

Patients who were expecting to have a new lease on life with pain-free movement have endured severe pain and chronic inflammation as the metal-on-metal parts covered under this ASR DePuy recall wear away with normal, daily use.

Johnson & Johnson already has paid $4 billion in hip implant lawsuit settlements. Documents revealed during litigation allegedly include an internal memo uncovered at Johnson & Johnson that supposedly proved the company was aware that at least 40 percent of patients who underwent ASR DePuy hip implant surgery would require a revision surgery within five years.

Lawsuits contend that Johnson & Johnson knew the risks of its metal-on-metal hip implant systems, but failed to warn doctors or patients of the very real safety risks. Allegations of negligence, fraud, gross negligence, malice, and willfully concealing the implant’s problems from consumers pepper the piles of lawsuits.

Gaining access to this new ASR DePuy recall settlement is reportedly complicated. If you think you or someone you know qualifies to be part of the recall settlement,  speak with an attorney who specializes in this area of law and compensation to ensure your case is seen all of the way through and that you receive the compensation that you deserve. The most recent amendment to the settlement opens it up to patients who underwent revision surgery after March 2015.