A class action investigation has been launched against DePuy Orthopaedics, after a recall of the DePuy ASR hip implant system was conducted in 2010.

After thousands of hip implant lawsuits were filed, the DePuy ASR hip implant system settlement was established, making compensation available to patients who had the prosthetic implanted and needed to undergo revision surgery due to metal hip implant complications.

The recall affected approximately 93,000 DePuy ASR hip implant system models worldwide, along with 37,000 united in the United States. The DePuy ASR hip implant recall was conducted voluntarily by the manufacturing companies, after a study from the United Kingdom indicated the metal on metal hip implant had a high rate of device failure.

According to the United Kingdom joint registry, approximately 13 percent of patients who opted for the DePuy ASR hip implant system had to undergo revision surgery soon after the initial surgery.

These patients had to undergo revision surgery due to debilitating metal hip implant complications, which for some made daily life almost unbearable and required additional surgery to correct the problems.

Overview of Metal Hip Implant Complications

The metal hip implant complications associated with the DePuy ASR hip implant system, include increased risk of cancer due to metal ions and other toxic particles shed into the bloodstream.

Also known as metallosis, this condition is characterized by dangerously high levels of metal in the blood and has become widely associated with metal hip implant complications

This can also cause cardiomyopathy, along with other cardiac related complications. Many of the device complications associated with the DePuy ASR hip implant system and other metal on metal hip implants, are linked to the metal ball and socket joint components.

When these all metal hip implant components interact, metal ions may be shed into the bloodstream and can quickly compound the patient’s condition and often cause device failure. The metal hip implant complications that patients have reported with these devices including:

• Fretting
• Corrosion
• Tissue Death
• Infection
• Debilitating Pain
• Formation of Pseudotumors
• Metallosis (Blood Metal Poisoning)

Patients who develop these conditions typically have to undergo revision surgery, which is considered riskier than the initial procedure due to higher risk of infection.

There is currently a settlement available for patients who had the DePuy ASR hip implant system implanted, but had to undergo revision surgery after March 2015. Patients who are interested in participating should consult with an attorney to determine eligibility.

In addition, numerous patients have opted to file legal action against DePuy Orthopaedics for allegedly failing to warn them against metal hip implant complications in a timely manner.

When patients opt for metal on metal hip implants, they are often under the impression that these products are superior to plastic or ceramic models. This is because the all metal hip implants are marketed to be more durable and longer lasting, and are ideal choices for patients looking to live an active lifestyle.

This has allegedly not been the case for numerous patients, who have been forced to undergo revision surgery. DePuy Orthopaedics and parent company Johnson & Johnson have reportedly already faced thousands of metal hip implant lawsuits, with more claims expected to be on the way.