A man claims hip replacement metal poisoning resulted from the failure of his DePuy ASR hip implant system.

Plaintiff Douglas F. says he was implanted with a DePuy ASR hip system on his right hip in Dec. 2006. He claims he had revision surgery to remove the implant in November 2017 because of elevated levels of chromium and cobalt ions, metallosis (metal poisoning), infection and hip device failure. He says he was seriously hurt by hip replacement metal poisoning. 

Douglas says he had another revision surgery in March 2018 to remove an antibiotic spacer and to implant a new permanent artificial hip.

From 2016 to present, he claims he has suffered personal and economic injuries as a result of the DePuy ASR hip implant:

• Severe pain
• Elevated metal levels
• Loss of past and future wages
• Loss of consortium
• Emotional injuries
• Trouble sleeping and walking
• Other illnesses and injuries, both in the past and future

Hip Replacement Metal Poisoning Allegations

DePuy is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, which originally paid $4 billion to settle nearly 8,000 DePuy ASR hip replacement lawsuits. Most of those patients alleged they developed hip replacement metal poisoning because of defects in the metal-on-metal systems.

The design of the DePuy ASR hip implant allegedly causes metal components to scrape against each other. As a result, tiny metal shavings of cobalt and chromium may break away from the components.

When the small metal shards dig into surrounding tissue, the tissue may become inflamed, and fluid collects as the body tries to expel the particles. Metal ions can leach into the tissue and bloodstream, and the patient will develop abnormally high levels of cobalt and/or chromium in the blood.

Hip replacement metal poisoning has no cure. The patient must undergo hip revision surgery to remove the offending components.

Nearly every system in the human body can become negatively impacted by hip replacement metal poisoning. Among the potential side effects are:

• Degenerative heart disease or cardiomyopathy
• Impaired renal function
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Hearing impairment or deafness
• Skin rash
• Pseudotumors around the hip implant, causing pressure and inflammation
• Cancer from toxic metals entering the system
• Dislocated hip
• Reduction in bone strength
• Implant loosening
• Bone death, causing dislocation or fracture

The DePuy ASR hip implant system is not the first metal-on-metal device from the company that has spurred lawsuits. The ASR’s predecessor, the DePuy Pinnacle hip implant system, reportedly generated the same complaints of hip replacement metal poisoning. Despite the Pinnacle’s poor performance history, DePuy allegedly based the design of the ASR on that of the failed predecessor.

Last year, an attorney in one case presented an internal memo that indicated Johnson & Johnson knew that 40 percent of ASR hip replacement patients would need a revision surgery within five years. Most joint replacements last 15 to 20 years under average circumstances.

If you have been diagnosed with hip replacement metal poisoning that has necessitated revision surgery of your DePuy ASR hip implant system, you could be eligible for compensation.

The Hip Replacement Metal Poisoning Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-dp-20071-JJH and is part of the DePuy ASR Hip MDL,In re: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. ASR Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation,MDL No. 2197, in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Western Division.