The DePuy Hip Replacement Side Effects

The popularity of J& J’s DePuy hip replacement devices, under market names ASR Hip Resurfacing System and ASR XL Acetabular System, turned into notoriety as their devastating side effects surfaced, leading to the Depuy hip recall and a U.S. Senate Hearing on the FDA Approval Process.

The hip implants, which replicate the ball-and-socket articulation at the hip, are supposed to replace the painful or dysfunctional human hip joint. And J&J’s touted superior-quality hip devices proved to be another case of caveat to more than 90,000 hip replacement patients around the world. It is only in August of 2010 that Depuy recalled its hip implants, admitting that they are defective and dangerous years after notice of their malfunction.

The design of the devices was found to be flawed. The ASR cup (which would replace the acetabulum or the concave bone surface of the hip joint) is shallower than ideally, making it a poor fit. Also, the artificial ball that acts as the head of the long bone in the lower extremity can come lose, which could result in bone breaking or disclocation of the ball from the hip socket.

When tissues are out of their normal alignment, it results in inflammatory reaction that includes swelling, pain and difficulty of movement. And as the DePuy hip replacement is a metal-on-metal assembly, the devices could scratch and scrape, and shed off metal particles to the tissues and bloodstream. In fact as early as 2005 patients complained of problems, including:

    * Loosening of implants
    * Hip fractures
    * Malaligned devices
    * Toxic metal fragments causing pseudotumors and contamination of the bloodstream
    * Wide tissue damage
    * Chronic pain
    * Other health problems

As a result of these flaws, 1 in 8 patients would need a second surgery to remove or replace the faulty implants.

If you have had a hip replacement and you knew or don’t know if you received a Depuy hip implant, do not wait to see your doctor before you experience these side effects and have yourself examined. Don’t sleep on your right, talk to someone you can trust to help you be compensated for the pain, anxiety, sleepless nights and your life in danger. You need a legal advocate who would make sure that redress of the wrong done to you will not end on the ASR Hip Recall, but on just compensation for the damage you have suffered. We’re here to explain to you your options in clear and plain language, with the attention and respect you deserve.