Depuy ASR Hip Replacement Attorney

DePuy ASR Hip Replacement Lawyer – Alpharetta GA

Defective DePuy Hip Implants Law Firm in Alpharetta, Georgia

Casey W. Stevens Law: Alpharetta Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers specializes in defective medical device law. We serve all of North Georgia from our offices in Alpharetta, Woodstock, Atlanta, Dawsonville, Cumming and Suwanee, Georgia

On August 26, 2010, defective DePuy hip implants were recalled by a division of Johnson & Johnson doing business as DePuy Orthopedics, Inc. The recalled devices include both the ASRXL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System. The medical device recall was in response to a high volume of complaints by many of those who had received one of the defective systems.

Some of the most common complications include:

• Severe pain and swelling at the site of surgery
• Difficulty walking
• Fatigue

When Johnson & Johnson implemented the international recall of the ASR device, they released a statement noting that the metal-on-metal hip implants had failed in 12 percent of patients within five years. However, an analysis conducted internally at DePuy in 2011, showed that the devices actually failed at a much higher rate – 37 percent in 4.5 years. Australian national joint registry data from 2012 suggested that the failure rate was actually 44 percent in seven years. Upon failure, a patient may experience the following:

• Pseudo-tumors
• Increased levels of chromium in the blood
• Loosening or dislocation of the implant
• Hip bone fracture
• An inflamed joint that can complicate corrective surgery

Thousands of lawsuits are pending as a result of the complications caused by these defective implants. One of the most common complications alleges that the DePuy ASR generates a toxic amount of chromium and cobalt ions. The lawsuits claim that the buildup of metal debris in the body from the implants caused complications in patients such as blackened tissue and early revision surgery. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently advised that metal ion testing be conducted for all-metal hip replacement patients experiencing symptoms such as pain, swelling, or difficulty walking – something they had never done before now. The FDA also recommended diagnostic imaging and regular physical examinations for patients who had received the now recalled implants. All of this additional medical care – blood tests, diagnostic imaging, and revision surgeries result in increased medical costs for patients affected.

Depuy issued a letter to patients who had received the defective implants in December 2010, shortly after the recall, asking patients to contact their claims administrator to “avoid the complex and lengthy lawsuit practice.” If you or someone you love has received such a letter, it is imperative that you consult with an attorney before taking any action that could limit your rights to pursue a case against the manufacturer in order to cover the costly medical expenses you are now facing. It is recommended that patients speak with an attorney about legal options prior to signing any documents provided by DePuy Orthopedics or Johnson & Johnson. To find out additional information about your legal rights contact Casey W. Stevens Law: Alpharetta Personal Injury and Car Accident Lawyers today.

Contact us for a free case evaluation TODAY! 770-408-6364