Philadelphia DePuy Hip Implant Recall Attorney
On August 26, 2010, DePuy Orthopedics a division of Johnson and Johnson, finally decided to recall the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System. These devices had a much higher rate of failure in comparison to similar products. These product failures could lead to expensive and painful replacement operations within 5 years. A hip replacement is supposed to last upwards of 15 years. In 2009, DePuy withdrew the ASR from the marketplace citing poor sales. At that time they stated they were not planning to recall the product. They also denied that it was defective. Johnson and Johnson finally decided to issue a recall only after numerous negative reports were issued and over four hundred complaints had been sent to the FDA. The two products were never clinically tested before they were inserted into patients. Johnson and Johnson has a history of placing products into the marketplace that required a recall after harming innocent consumers. Just last year, Rolaids Softchews, Childrens Benadryl Allergy Fast Melts, Junior Strength Motrin Caplets, and Accuvue Lenses were also recalled.
A published study by the Joint Registry of England and Wales stated that twelve to thirteen percent of all patients who received the DePuy system would require a costly and painful second hip surgery. It is believed the defective DePuy hip implants have been placed in well over ninety three thousand patients meaning that over eleven thousand patients will need a second surgery. This means that one in eight patients who used the product may be forced to undergo revision surgery which may require a long and complicated recovery and rehabilitation process. Dr. Stephen Graves the director of the Australian Hip Implant Database claims that data has recognized the shortcomings of the DePuy products for many years. In December 2009, DePuy voluntarily withdrew their products from Australia. They should have done the same in the United States. Our experienced Philadelphia product recall attorneys and medical malpractice lawyers are demanding answers why the manufacturer failed to warn of the dangers and defects of this dangerous and defective product.
When medical professionals in the United States and around the world informed DePuy that the devices were failing, the company refused to stop selling the product or issue a warning. Why did Johnson and Johnson wait such a long time to issue recall and warn patients about a device that had received an exorbitant amount of criticism and was never clinically tested? Were they sacrificing the interests of consumer safety in order to maximize profits?
A traditional hip replacement will last approximately fifteen years. Patients who have received a hip replacement manufactured by DePuy have complained of pain and swelling in as little as only one year. Orthopedic specialists have stated that the problem with the ASR systems is the replacement cup. The DePuy cup is shallower than ones found in other competing systems. This leads to problems with implementation and alignment. Even the co-creator of the ASR Dr. Thomas P. Schmalzried stated “The window for component position that is consistent for good, long-term clinical function is smaller for the DePuy ASR implant,” than other cups. This means that the product is much harder to align correctly. Problems with the cup have led to swelling, pain, and even difficulty in performing common movements such as walking. Another problem with the DePuy hip implant system is that excess friction between the ball and the cup creates metallic particles. These metallic particles and shavings are then released into the blood stream. Metallic particles in the human blood stream can lead to deafness, dementia, and even life threatening complications such as heart failure.
The ASR hip system created by DePuy was originally touted as a medical and scientific breakthrough that would last longer and provide greater natural movement to patients. This could not be further from the truth. DePuy is one of the largest manufacturers of replacement hips in the world with sales close to 5.4 Billion Dollars. We believe that DePuy exploited a loophole in the FDA regulations that allowed this product to reach the consumer without a single clinical test being performed. Dr. Sydney Wolfe, the director of the Public Citizens Health Research Group has stated that DePuy “are basically testing these devices in an uncontrolled way on a large number of people”. DePuy has agreed to pay for medical expenses, monitoring, and revision surgery if necessary. This is a poor attempt to cover up the corporate wrongdoings of a company that profited off dangerous devices that were never tested. If you or anyone in your family has received a hip replacement after 2003 we strongly encourage you to call the surgeon who performed the operation and ask if the DePuy ASR was implanted. Please call a doctor immediately if you experience swelling, pain and difficulty walking. An x-ray can reveal how the implant is performing and a blood test can determine if there are any metallic particles in your system. Do not contact DePuy, Johnson and Johnson, or sign any documents without first contacting a law firm with the experience needed to handle your case. Please fill out the questionnaire or contact us if you or anyone you know may be affected by this harmful product. It is important to contact an experienced PA medical equipment failure lawyer as soon as possible if you wish to protect your legal rights and remedies.
The Pennsylvania defective product and DePuy hip implant defect lawyers of Reiff & Bily has successfully represented the rights of injured consumers against some of the world’s largest corporations. Many of the clients that we are speaking to are angry, frustrated, and do not know what to do. Not surprisingly, many of the physicians who installed these devices are also concerned and not sure how to proceed. Our lawyers have gathered a group of leading physicians to review and investigate these cases to determine eligibility at no cost to our client for their ability to prosecute a claim against DePuy for resulting damages. It is important to contact a DePuy hip implant lawyer now as thousands have already begun the process by submitting information necessary for investigative review. Time may be of the essence.
If you or a loved one has sustained an injury and resulting damages as a result of a DePuy ASR hip implant, please contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at (800) 421-9595.
