DePuy Orthopaedics is facing a new DePuy ASR hip replacement lawsuit, which was recently filed by a man from Mississippi alleging serious device complications.

The DePuy ASR hip replacement lawsuit is one of the most recent additions to the growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) forming against DePuy, which consists of product liability claims from patients alleging similar problems with the metal on metal hip implant.

Plaintiff Fred W. filed this DePuy ASR hip replacement lawsuit soon after discovering that a settlement had been set up for patients who had to undergo revision surgery, allegedly due to the device complications from the metal on metal hip implant.

The DePuy ASR hip settlement pertains to patients who had to undergo revision surgery due to the allegedly defective nature of the all-metal hip prosthetic.

According to the DePuy ASR hip replacement lawsuit, Fred had the hip prosthetic implanted on his left side on July 6, 2006. Fred was like millions of other patients that needed to undergo hip replacement surgery and opted for the DePuy ASR hip replacement after discussing the option with his physician and reviewing marketing materials from the company.

These marketing materials had reportedly led Fred to believe that the DePuy ASR hip replacement was a safe and reliable all-metal prosthetic, for patients suffering from damaged or deteriorating hip joints. While Fred reportedly suffered no initial complications, he says he eventually developed painful symptoms that forced him to undergo revision surgery.

According to the DePuy ASR hip replacement lawsuit, Fred had reported to his doctor complaining of painful side effects including pain, grinding, differing leg lengths, and dislocation of the implant. His doctor diagnosed him suffering from metallosis, or blood metal poisoning, on June 1, 2017, along with serious tissue and bone damage in the area surrounding the implant.

Overview of Metal on Metal Hip Replacement Problems

Metallosis is a serious condition in which metal ion levels in the blood become too high, and can compound the patient’s medical condition. Metallosis also leads to corrosion and tissue death in the implant area, which can cause infection and ultimately device failure.

Patients who develop metallosis often have to undergo revision surgery, because that is often the only treatment for these complications. Fred was reportedly one of these patients, who underwent revision surgery to have the DePuy ASR hip replacement removed on April 4, 2018.

Many complications associated with all-metal hip replacement prostheses stem from the ball and socket joints of the device, which shed metal ions into the bloodstream when they interact. This design defect has become well known in the medical community and has been seen in different metal on metal hip replacement models from different manufacturers.

Given the severity of these complications, it is important for DePuy Orthopaedics and other manufacturing companies to disclose all potential device complications. Fred states he would not have agreed to have the DePuy ASR hip replacement implanted if he had known the severity of the device complications.

Fred’s DePuy ASR hip replacement lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2197, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries from the DePuy ASR hip replacement.

This DePuy ASR Hip Replacement Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-dp-20041-JJH, in the U.S. District Court of Northern Ohio, Western Division.