Many patients seek a DePuy ASR settlement after their hip implants allegedly fail and lead to revision surgery.

A startling number of patients who received Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy ASR hip implant strive for a DePuy ASR settlement based on claims that the metal-on-metal hip implant results in implant failure and eventually needs revision surgery. The massive DePuy ASR settlement has been made available to eligible patients who underwent revision surgery since March 2015.

Metal-on-metal hip replacements such as the DePuy ASR hip implant have allegedly had numerous reports of complications. According to the FDA, “metal particles from a metal-on-metal implant may cause a reaction around the joint, leading to deterioration of the tissue around the joint, loosening of the implant and failure of the device.”

Complications reported with metal-on-metal hip implants include an increased risk of cancer, degenerative heart disease or cardiomyopathy, non-cancerous tumors, swelling, severe discomfort, and metal poisoning. These complications can lead to premature failure of the hip implant which necessitates revision surgery.

In a hip revision surgery, the existing hip implant is removed and replaced with another device, commonly a metal-on-ceramic or metal-on-plastic design. Revision surgeries may be especially difficult, however, if the patient had a local reaction to the original implant that may have affected the soft tissue or bone quality. Such damage would make it more difficult to mount a new hip implant.

Risks of revision surgery include anesthesia complications, excessive bleeding, blood clots, infection, pulmonary embolism, and further implant failure.

Hip Implant Recall

In August 2010, the FDA announced a recall of 93,000 hip implants worldwide due to data from the UK joint registry that found 13 percent of DePuy ASR hip implants requiring hip revision surgery to correct debilitating complications. Of the 93,000 hip implants recalled worldwide, 37,000 were in the United States.

Following the recall, many DePuy ASR settlements and lawsuits have been filled from patients with alleged complications from their hip implant. Johnson & Johnson has already agreed to settle the first lawsuits concerning the DePuy ASR hip implant. In August 2012, the company announced that it would pay a combined $600,000 DePuy ASR settlement to settle three separate lawsuits, with each plaintiff receiving $200,000 each. These lawsuits were filed by patients who had to have revision surgery due to complications allegedly caused by the DePuy ASR hip implant.

Compensation from a DePuy ASR settlement may be available for patients who had to undergo hip revision surgery after March 2015 due to the following problems: failure of the hip implant; dislocated hip; leaking of toxic substances into the bloodstream from the hip implant; metal poisoning; tissue death for any tissue surrounding the hip implant; non-cancerous tumors or pseudotumors surrounding the hip implant; degenerative heart disease or cardiomyopathy; or cancer.

A DePuy ASR settlement would cover medical costs, loss of wages, pain and suffering, and more. Metal hip implant class action lawsuit attorneys estimate that a typical DePuy ASR settlement could range from $200,000 to $500,000 per plaintiff. If you or a loved one were affected by complications from a DePuy ASR hip implant, you may qualify for a DePuy ASR settlement.