A couple recently filed a DePuy ASR hip replacement lawsuit against DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, over serious injuries and complications allegedly suffered after being implanted with the company’s hip replacement device.

Plaintiffs Kent and Laura C. file the Depuy ASR hip replacement lawsuit, joining a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) against the company in Ohio federal court.

According to the DePuy ASR hip replacement lawsuit, Kent is a resident and citizen of the state of Colorado. He says that following his hip replacement procedure he suffered injuries, economic loss, and loss of consortium between him and his wife.

Kent says that he underwent the left hip implant procedure on Nov. 18, 2007 at Sky Ridge Medical Center. Additional injuries claimed include weakness, debilitating pain, loss of his ability of move or walk, levels of cobalt and chromium ions in his bloodstream, metallosis, emotional and physical damages, and anxiety, fear, and mental anguish.

The Depuy ASR hip replacement lawsuit was filed on multiple counts including negligence, negligence per se, defective design, manufacturing defect, failure to warn, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, fraud and deceit, among others.

Kent demands a trial by jury.

Overview: DePuy ASR Hip Replacement

There have been several adverse effects and complications associated with Johnson & Johnson’s ASR hip replacement device which has been the subject of a massive hip implant settlement because of these serious injuries.

Some of these alleged adverse effects which include the need to undergo hip replacement revision surgery are:

• Cobalt poisoning
• Pseudotumors or non-cancerous tumors surrounding the hip implant
• Metal poisoning or metallosis that includes the presence of chromium or cobalt particles in the bloodstream or surrounding tissue
• Death of tissue
• The result of bone fractures from bone strength loss or structure
• Cancer
• Cardiomyopathy or Degenerative Heart Disease
• Hip Dislocation
• Metal hip implant failure resulting in early hip replacement surgery

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the company’s voluntary recall of defective ASR hip implant devices on Aug. 24, 2010. There were roughly 93,000 affected ASR hip replacement devices affected worldwide, and 37,000 devices affected in the United States.

The reason for the recall stems from data released by the UK joint registry, which found that 13 percent of DePuy ASR hip implants require revision surgery due to severe complications and high failure rate caused by conditions such as metallosis, infection, dislocation of the device, and immobility.

Accusations against DePuy include that the medical device company was aware of these adverse effects but failed to warn the public, patients, and medical community. Revelations at the company’s first DePuy ASR trial disclosed that the company knew that, for two out of five patients implanted with a DePuy hip replacement device, revision surgery would be necessary within five years.

The DePuy ASR Hip Replacement Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-dp-20020-JJH, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division. The DePuy Lawsuit is in re: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. ASR Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1:10-md-2197, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division.