When someone must undergo a hip replacement, it is expected that the implant will be in place for many years. However, recently, thousands of metal-on-metal hip implant systems have been recalled which has led to a sizable DePuy ASR settlement for affected patients.

Many patients who have experienced complications with their DePuy ASR hip replacement system have filed product liability lawsuits. In August 2013, a lawsuit filed by three women from Nevada who had DePuy ASR hip replacements from the same doctor reaped a DePuy ASR settlement of $600,000 for all three plaintiffs.

Not too long after that, Johnson & Johnson agreed to another DePuy ASR settlement, this time to answer the claims in 7,000 additional lawsuits.

Because of the thousands of litigants, in November 2013, Johnson & Johnson, the makers of the DePuy ASR hip replacement system set aside $4 billion dollars which would settle 8,000 lawsuits. This DePuy ASR settlement affected those patients who needed to undergo revision surgery before Aug. 31, 2013

Early in 2015, an additional DePuy ASR settlement agreement was reached to settle nearly 2,000 more lawsuits for $420 million. This affected claims that did not fall underneath the original $4 billion DePuy ASR settlement.

Patients who had revision surgery between Aug. 31, 2013 and Jan. 31, 2015 are able to file claims underneath this DePuy ASR settlement. A subsequent extension of the settlement has made claims available for patient whose revision surgery took place later.

DePuy ASR Hip Replacement System Complications

The DePuy ASR hip system is made up of chromium and cobalt and is considered a metal-on-metal hip replacement system. Both parts of the ball-in-socket are metal in this kind of hip replacement system.

In a hip replacement system like this, a metal cup (acetabular cup) fits within the socket part of the hip. A metal ball that is affixed to the top of the femur, or leg bone, via a metal stem fits within this cup. Both parts are metal.

The reason metal-on-metal hip systems were initially created was that it was thought that they would last longer and provide a greater range of motion than earlier models.

But many patients who have metal-on-metal hip systems have serious complications associated with the material their implant is made of and how it interacts with other components.

The biggest problem with these metal-on-metal hip implants is the fact that the metal part of the femur, the ball, rubs against the acetabular cup that rests within the pelvis. When the patient moves, metal shards and ions can be released into the tissue around the implant site. This inflammation and poisoning of the blood and tissue from metal is called metallosis.

Many complications can occur including non-cancerous cysts, metallosis, tissue infection, and device failure. Also, patients have reported dislocation, heterotopic ossification, or the calcification of soft tissue, hip infection and osteolysis, which is the loss of bone around the replacement.

When these complications are severe enough, patients must often undergo revision surgery. Revision surgery requires a specialist to remove all or parts of the implant and replace them. These surgeries are more complicated than the original implant surgeries and offer more room for complications.

If you or someone you love has been affected by complications with your DePuy ASR hip implant, you may benefit from speaking to an attorney to discover if you qualify for the DePuy ASR settlement.

Source https://www.depuysynthes.com/asrrecall/asr-hip-replacement-recall.html