DePuy Orthopaedics is facing legal action from a Wisconsin man, alleging one of the company’s metal hip implants was defective and compounded his medical condition.

According to the DePuy metal hip implant lawsuit, the man claims the DePuy ASR hip implant caused him to suffer implant complications and has already forced him to undergo one revision surgery.

Plaintiff James S. had the DePuy ASR hip implanted on his left side on Jan. 15, 2010, and later opted to have the same metal hip implant implemented for his right hip replacement on Nov. 9, 2013.

During all times relevant, James and his physicians had no prior knowledge of serious implant complications and received no notifications from the manufacturing company. According to the DePuy metal hip implant lawsuit, James had suffered personal and economic injuries due to complications from the DePuy ASR metal hip.

These complications forced him to have the left side metal hip implant explanted on Feb. 2, 2016; he will most likely have to do the same on his right hip at some point in the future.

James filed his DePuy metal hip implant lawsuit after learning the company recalled their all metal hip implants, due to complications like blood metal poisoning and device failure.

Overview of Metal Hip Implant Complications

When metal hip implants were first released into the market, they were advertised to be overtly superior to their plastic or ceramic counterparts. Manufacturing companies advertised the metal hip implants as more durable and longer lasting than other hip implants, with most of the models being customizable to patients.

Most metal hip implants were approved under the FDA’s 510(k) process, which exonerated the medical devices from preclinical testing. As long as the medical device proves it can work at an equivalent level with an already released product that is similar to the product in question, then the product is eligible for the FDA’s accelerated approval.

It has has been alleged, however, that the lack of clinical testing caused many patients and orthopedic experts to be caught off guard with the numerous complications.

Metal hip implant complications reported by patients includ: intense pain, device failure, corrosion, fretting, and blood metal poisoning (metallosis). When the ball and socket joint of the metal hip implant interact, metal ions can be shed into the blood stream.

The DePuy metal hip implant lawsuit is being filed as part of a multidistrict litigation, (MDL) No. 2197, where it will stand alongside other metal hip implant lawsuits alleging similar claims.

The DePuy Metal Hip Implant Lawsuit is Case No.1:17-dp-20007-JJH, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division.