You could be eligible for a portion of a DePuy ASR hip implant settlement if you have undergone revision surgery since March 2015.

Attorneys involved in the litigation estimate patients could receive payments of up to $500,000 each in this settlement reached with parent company Johnson & Johnson. So far, the company has paid $4 billion to settle thousands of ASR hip implant lawsuits.

The DePuy ASR hip implant settlement was announced to settle thousands of lawsuits regarding the metal-on-metal implant’s problems that necessitated revision surgery.

Of the 93,000 estimated DePuy ASR hip implants completed worldwide, approximately 37,000 were done in the United States. A United Kingdom report found that 13 percent of DePuy ASR hip implants required revision surgeries.

An internal Johnson & Johnson memo presented in one trial indicated DePuy knew that 40 percent who underwent ASR hip implant surgery would require revision surgery within a mere five years.

Patients Eligible for DePuy ASR Hip Implant Settlement

The DePuy ASR hip implant settlement is available to patients who experienced device failure. The ASR’s design was based upon that of the DePuy Pinnacle hip implant, which was the ASR’s metal-on-metal predecessor that allegedly had an early failure rate and complications from the metals.

The ASR was marketed as an improvement over the Pinnacle design, but both metal-on-metal hip systems are at risk for causing a patient to suffer metal poisoning, also known as metallosis. The gliding of metal part upon another metal part allegedly leads to the release of toxic metals into nearby tissue and the bloodstream. Metal debris causes inflammation, pain, tissue death and bone loss. The hip implant itself can become loose or dislocate.

DePuy allegedly knew the cobalt and chromium could leach into a patient’s body, exceeding acceptable safety standards. The metal shavings can be so small they cannot always all be discovered and removed during revision surgery, which itself is a risky endeavor.

You could qualify for the DePuy ASR hip implant settlement if you have suffered dislocation, metallosis, or any of these problems that resulted in revision surgery:

• Degenerative heart disease or cardiomyopathy
• Impaired renal function
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Pseudotumors around the hip implant, causing pressure and inflammation
• Cancer due to toxic metals entering the system
• Dislocated hip
• Reduction in bone strength or structure, causing easy fracturing
• Complete failure of the hip implant requiring replacement soon after initial surgery

Warning signs that your hip implant is beginning to fail include pain while moving or walking; swelling in the hip or groin area; lumps near your hip; a feeling the joint has slipped out of place; squeaking or popping noises while moving.

Patients who underwent revision surgery since March 2015 may qualify for payments from the most recent modification of the DePuy ASR hip implant settlement. An experienced attorney can help you receive the compensation you deserve in the DePuy ASR hip implant settlement.