Recalled DePuy Hip Implants Prove to Be More Dangerous Than Originally Thought

(March 28, 2011, New York, NY) The Rottenstein Law Group has obtained new information, courtesy of a Bloomberg article, that depicts a much higher failure rate of recalled DePuy Orthopaedics hip implants. Initial indications from Australia’s national artificial joint registry showed a one-in-eight failure rate 5 years after implantation. Subsequent statistics obtained from the British Orthopaedic Association and the British Hip Society prove a need for revision surgery 21 percent of the time after 4 years, and 49 percent of the time after 6 years. About 10,000 of DePuy’s recalled ASR XL Acetabular and ASR Hip Resurfacing Systems were implanted in patients in the United Kingdom. If these statistics hold true, there could be upwards of 5,000 people in need of revision surgeries because of DePuy’s negligence. Approximately 93,000 devices were used worldwide, with about 46,500 expected to fail after six years. The average life span of a hip replacement device is normally 15-20 years.
The findings of the two British organizations shed even more light on the dangers posed by metal-on-metal hip implants. DePuy has already been called out for utilizing regulatory loopholes in place by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), bypassing clinical trials and bringing their products to market without the stringent testing otherwise required for approval. Difficulties reported by other foreign joint registries were ignored, resulting in removal of DePuy hip replacement devices from certain markets. A full-scale recall was not issued until August 2010, only after complaints in the U.S. were filed with the FDA.
The Rottenstein Law Group has a team of hip replacement lawyers dedicated to pursuing action against DePuy Orthopaedics and its parent company, Johnson & Johnson, on behalf of patients who have been injured by the recalled hip devices. Individuals who feel they may have been harmed by one of the DePuy ASR hip replacement devices are advised to contact their physicians if they are experiencing symptoms such as pain, swelling, or difficulty walking. Once evaluated, patients are encouraged to consult the Web site set up by the Rottenstein Law Group to stay apprised of the ongoing hip replacement lawsuits against DePuy.
About the Rottenstein Law Group
The Rottenstein Law Group is a New York-based law firm that represents clients in mass tort actions. The firm was founded by Rochelle Rottenstein, a lawyer with over two decades of experience in compassionate representation of clients in consumer product injury, mass tort, and class action law suits. For more information, please visit their Web site, or call (888) 9-ROT-LAW.

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