A new DePuy ASR hip lawsuit has joined a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) against DePuy Orthopaedics and parent company Johnson & Johnson, alleging the companies failed to warn the claimant against the allegedly defective nature of the hip replacement system.

The DePuy ASR hip lawsuit has been filed by a woman who allegedly had her medical condition compounded after being forced to undergo revision surgery from metal hip implant complications.

Plaintiff Angela W. filed this DePuy ASR hip lawsuit, after discovering problems with the prosthetic system when the FDA recalled the device in August 2010. According to the DePuy ASR hip lawsuit, Angela underwent hip replacement surgery on her right hip in April 2009 and got the prosthetic implanted for typical treatment purposes.

The DePuy ASR hip implant is a metal on metal hip implant, which is typically prescribed to patients suffering from a degenerative disease or traumatic injury impacting hip movements. When Angela agreed to the device being implanted, she and her physician had been relying on the marketing materials presented by DePuy and Johnson & Johnson.

These advertisements allegedly stated the device was perfectly safe and reasonable to use and reportedly did not mention any potential complications like metallosis or device failure. However, Angela discovered the allegedly defective nature of the DePuy ASR hip implant when she reportedly developed metallosis and had to undergo revision surgery on Feb. 15, 2018.

The device was explanted at this time, with Angela having to contend with the intense recovery process. Angela opted to file legal action against the companies after discovering the DePuy ASR hip implants were previously recalled, and that a settlement was formed for patients who had to undergo revision surgery due to the DePuy ASR hip implant complications.

Overview of DePuy ASR Implant Complications

The FDA announced Johnson & Johnson issued a voluntary recall of DePuy ASR hip implants on Aug. 24, 2010, withdrawing 37,000 hip implants in the United States and 93,000 implants worldwide.

The company reportedly issued the recall after data was released from the United Kingdom registry, which found 13% of DePuy ASR hip implant patients had to undergo revision surgery due to debilitating device complications. The primary problem associated with these devices was metallosis, or blood metal poisoning, which caused inflammation and infection in the implant area.

Metallosis occurs when the all metal ball and socket hip implant components interact, and shed metal ions into the bloodstream. This can lead to a number of other complications, including:

• Fretting
• Corrosion
• Debilitating Pain
• Infection
• Inflammation
• Tissue Death
• Formation of Pseudotumors

Patients who had the DePuy ASR hip prosthetic implanted and had to undergo revision surgery may be eligible to participate in a settlement established in 2015. In addition to the settlement fund, Johnson & Johnson and DePuy are facing intense litigation action from the patient population.

Angela alleges the company failed to warn her and her physician against metallosis or potential need for revision surgery, and would not have agreed to have the device implanted if she had known.

Angela’s DePuy ASR hip lawsuit is being filed in MDL No. 2197, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries.

This DePuy ASR Hip Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-dp-20015-JJH, in the U.S. District Court of Northern Ohio, Western Division.