Following the hip recall of the ASR XL Acetabular and ASR Hip Resurfacing System by Johnson and Johnson subsidiary DePuy, reports have indicated that the said orthopedic manufacturer have already known the 5 -year failure rate of the devices. A New York Times article written in March 2010 disclosed that months before DePuy issued a recall of the hip replacements, they were aware that the ASRs were failing at a dramatic rate.
Australian director of an implant database, Dr. Stephen Graves, asserted that the company's plans to phase out the devices before 2010 ends were too late to curb alarming damages. Unfavorable data have already started to pile up in Australia, where the hip replacements were sold more extensively than in the United States. It showed for quite some time that the devices fail earlier than their competitors. Prior to the worldwide hip recall, DePuy have withdrawn the ASRs from the Australian market.
In the United States, FDA has received about 300 complaints against the DePuy hip replacements. A component of the device sold separately referred to as an ASR 'cup' did not receive any clinical approval. Initially, complaints were addressed by the company as mistake on the surgeon's part to install the device properly. Subsequently, DePuy sent out letters that warned surgeons that the hip replacements were less effective in people with small stature, specifically women, and people with weak bones. It is apparent that the orthodepic manufacturer has acted too late on the matter.
DePuy ASR's defective metal-on-metal makeup cause significant amount of toxic metal debris to be scraped off its parts. The particles affect the surrounding muscles and tissue bringing about swelling, inflammation, pain and in most cases, a costly revision surgery. Typically, a hip replacement device should last for about 15 years. The ASRs last for a third of that.
The damages caused by the devices vary among patients. If you are a recipient of a DePuy hip replacement ASR, you need to consult your doctor to undergo a medical evaluation. An appointment with a hip recall lawyer is important for them to protect your best interests.

 


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