Depuy Hip Replacement

DePuy Orthopaedics is a manufacturer of medical devices used in hip replacements and hip resurfacing procedures. DePuy manufactured two medical devices used in hip replacement and resurfacing surgeries: the DePuy ASR^TM XL Acetabulator Hip System and the DePuy ASR^TM Hip Resurfacing System. Both were metal-on-metal products and were advertised as an alternative that would be best for young and active people undergoing a hip replacement or resurfacing.

Unfortunately, these DePuy hip replacement devices have been shown to have a higher fail rate than other types of hip replacement devices. The metal-on-metal hip implants manufactured by DePuy can also cause significant complications to patients. As a result, many of the estimated 93,000 people worldwide who used DePuy hip replacement products are now suing the company for damages. If you or a loved one has been injured by a DePuy hip replacement device, contact an experienced Boston personal injury attorney today to learn what your options are. Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers has helped many clients in DePuy hip replacement cases and is offering free consultations. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.

According to an article in the British Medical Journal released in 2011, metal-on-metal hip replacement devices were used in an estimated 10 percent of the total number of hip replacement and resurfacing procedures worldwide from 2006 to 2009. DePuy was a major provider of these products and patients throughout the United States had surgical procedures using a DePuy product. In fact, although the DePuy ASR^TM Hip Resurfacing system was never approved for use in the U.S., a DePuy spokesman told Arthritis Today that many patients in the United States had had this system implanted either during U.S. clinical trials or while they were abroad.

Unfortunately, DePuy Orthopaedics has now recalled their hip replacement systems in light of the mounting evidence that these medical devices are ineffective and dangerous. The DePuy hip replacement devices:

• Have a higher fail rate than other hip replacement devices. Arthritis Today indicates that unpublished data from the UK's joint registry suggests that an estimated 12 percent of patients who were implanted with a DePuy device will need a corrective procedure within five years of their original surgery. At a March 2011 British Hip Society Annual conference , the data indicated an even higher fail rate, as estimates suggested that 49 percent of people with a DePuy device would need it replaced within just six years.
• Shed metal ions (tiny medical particles ). The FDA released a statement regarding these metal ions and their potential link to problems in the nervous system, heart and thyroid gland. The British Medical Journal (BMJ) and BBC NewsNight indicated that these released meal particles could have a destructive effect on muscles, bones, lymph nodes, kidney and liver function and could potentially play a role in causing long term disability.

Injured victims who experience these side effects or whose hip replacement or resurfacing procedure fails because of the DePuy products may incur significant medical expenses and experience a lot of pain as a result of the defective medical device. The law allows for compensation in such cases and if patients can prove a link between the DePuy product and harm they have suffered or are suffering, they can file a product liability lawsuit to recover compensation for their damages. Many plaintiffs are joining DePuy class action cases; however you may also bring your own individual case. Your personal injury attorney can help you to determine which of these courses of action is best for you.

To learn more about how a Boston personal injury lawyer can help you if you are suffering from DePuy hip implant complications, contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers today at (617) 777-7777 or online.