DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. and Johnson & Johnson have been riddled with difficulties stemming from their DePuy ASR hip system implants.

The DePuy ASR XL hip replacement device was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the summer of 2005. Although the staff at DePuy designed this metal-on-metal hip joint replacement to be able to withstand the stresses of younger, more active recipients, DePuy ASR hip replacement complications continue to plague consumers.

DePuy closely kept an eye on how the product performed over time and noted a host of problems that frequently led to earlier than average hip revision surgery.

What Are Total Hip Replacement Surgery and Hip Revision Surgery?

The human hip joint consists of a ball and socket that allow the leg to smoothly move in all directions. The socket of the hip is called the acetabulum, and it resides where the upper leg meets the pelvic cage.

Over time, this the cartilage of this joint can wear down to the point of non-existence, causing severe inflammation, pain, and degeneration. A total hip replacement surgery inserts an artificial man-made joint into the acetabulum allowing for additional years of pain-free function.

Artificial joints contain lining elements, which wear down over time as well. These typically need to be replaced once every ten years. The part replacement is known as hip revision surgery.

DePuy ASR Hip Replacement Complications Lead to Voluntary Recall

In August 2005, five years to the month after its FDA approval, DePuy issued a voluntary recall of the ASR artificial metal-on-metal hip joint.

According to company report, DePuy ASR hip replacement complications were bringing patients back to surgeons for earlier revision sooner. Frequently, consumers had the artificial joint replaced altogether with a different type of unit. 

The DePuy ASR hip replacement complications were numerous but included just some of the following:

• Toxic overload from metal particles leeching into blood or nearby tissue
• Tumors around the artificial joint apparatus – cancerous or benign
• Dislocated hip or loss of bone density leading to fracturing
• Death of tissue around artificial joint. 

DePuy Orthopaedics Settles Hip Implant Lawsuits

In late November 2013, DePuy Orthopaedics agrees on a settlement with U.S. recipients of ASR artificial hip joints who had revision surgery before Aug. 31, 2013. In early March 2015, a second settlement was reached for recipients of ASR hip joints who had revision procedures after Aug. 31, 2013 but before Jan. 31, 2015.

In early March of this year, this latter settlement was extended to include recipients with revisions through Feb. 15, 2017.

Although DePuy agreed to settle as outlined above, there are still tried court cases currently under appeal. Multi-district litigation (MDL) is being put together in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Ohio. In early 2016, the number of pending hip implant lawsuits against DePuy and all its versions of the ASR hip system were significant.  At that time, 5,300 plaintiffs were counted.