In 2010, DePuy Orthopaedics recalled two hip replacement products – the ASR Hip Resurfacing System and the ASR XL Acetabular System – due to a high risk of complications associated with these devices. As such, if you’ve experienced a medical issue after receiving a DePuy ASR hip replacement product, you may be entitled to recover financial compensation for your damages.
The DePuy recall occurred due to new data revealing that more patients than expected suffered from pain and serious complications that required revision surgeries. The National Joint Registry of England and Wales also revealed that one in eight patients who received the recalled hip implant products required a revision surgery within five years. Many of the problems associated with the DePuy ASR hip implants stem from the fact that it’s a metal-on-metal device.
As such, it can release metal particles into the bloodstream and surrounding tissues when certain parts of the device rub together, causing a form of metal poisoning called metallosis. Not only can metallosis cause pain and swelling in the area, but it can also weaken the joint and bone. Eventually, it leads to the loosening of the implant and device failure, prompting the patient to require a complex revision surgery to replace the metal implant with one that uses plastic or ceramic surfaces. Although some patients’ symptoms will improve after the revision, others will experience ongoing pain and a permanent loss of mobility for the rest of their lives.
