DePuy ASR hip complications have been reported by patients across the country, and they have led to the formation of a massive settlement for patients being forced to undergo revision surgery.

Patients who had to undergo revision surgery since March 2015 due to unexpected DePuy ASR hip complications may be able to receive compensation for medical damages.

The DePuy ASR settlement was formed after the metal on metal hip replacement system was recalled from the market in August 2010, which informed patients of potential DePuy ASR hip complications. The all metal hip replacements were recalled due to reports of various DePuy ASR hip complications including:

• Metallosis (blood metal poisoning)
• Fretting
• Corrosion
• Tissue Death
• Formation of Pseudotumors
• Loss of Bone Strength
• Dislocated Hip
• Debilitating Pain
• Device Failure
• Cancer
• Cardiac Problems

These DePuy ASR hip complications forced many patients to undergo revision surgery, with surgeons explanting and replacing the defective hip replacement. All metal hip implants like the DePuy ASR system have become widely associated with serious side effects compounding the patient’s medical condition.

Not only do patients have to be wary of device failure, they may be at risk for unexpected cardiac complications or sudden cancer development due to toxic substances from the hip implant entering their bloodstream. Metal ion levels in the blood may rise to dangerous levels that may develop into blood metal poisoning or heart disease.

These metal ions may also cause tissue death near the surgical area, which may lead to debilitating pain and limited movement. Ultimately, these contributing factors may cause complete device failure, necessitating revision surgery to remove and replace the prosthetic.

Overview of Metal on Metal Hip Complications

These DePuy ASR hip complications are similar to other injuries reported in conjunction with different all metal hip implants, which can be traced to interaction of components. When the all metal ball and socket joints interact to simulate hip function, metal ions may be shed into the bloodstream and may cause the reported DePuy ASR hip complications.

After receiving numerous injury reports and reviewing important data, the FDA announced a voluntary recall of 93,000 DePuy ASR hip implants worldwide with 37,000 in the United States. The data came from the United Kingdom joint registry, which found 13% of DePuy ASR hip implant patients had required revision surgery due to serious metal hip implant complications.

It is important to note that the DePuy ASR Hip implant is not the first encounter Johnson & Johnson has had with metal hip implant complications, with patients reporting problems with the DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement.

Johnson & Johnson has been accused of either knowing or that they should have known about the potential complications associated with their metal on metal hip implants. Johnson & Johnson is currently facing thousands of product liability claims, from patients alleging they were not warned against metal hip implant complications.

Patients who received a DePuy ASR hip replacement and had to undergo revision surgery since March 2015, due to DePuy ASR hip complications may be eligible to participate in the settlement.