DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., has voluntarily recalled the DePuy ASR(TM) XL Acetabular System and Depuy ASR(TM) Hip Resurfacing System used in hip replacement surgery. Serious complications with these two devices caused many individuals to experience severe pain, discomfort, and for many, a second corrective surgery. In fact, DePuy has acknowledged that symptoms of the DePuy Hip System may include:
– Loosening, when the implant does not stay attached to the bone in the correct position
– Fracture, where the bone around the implant may have broken; and
– Dislocation, where the two parts of the implant that move against each other are no longer aligned.
Further, if you have had hip surgery after July 2003, the hip replacement device you received may be included in this recall. However, DePuy does not maintain a master list of patients who received their product. Therefore, if you have had hip surgery and received an implant after July 2003, contact your orthopedic surgeon or the hospital where your surgery took place to determine whether you received a DePuy ASR Hip System device. This step may take time and therefore, should be looked into as soon as possible.
Also, visiting your doctor for medical testing will help determine whether your hip is functioning well and reacting appropriately to the implant device. Tests may include X-Rays of your hip, simple physical reaction test, as well as blood test to indicate the level of microscopic metal particles around your hip that may cause serious health problems. In addition, other test may be done including an ultrasound or MRI to evaluate if you are having a reaction to the metal particles. This is a critical factor to explore since many patients who had the DePuy implant are later diagnosed with metallosis, which occurs when friction of a metal on metal device produces metal shavings that become deposited in the socket of the device and in the surrounding soft tissue. This damage may complicate the corrective surgery many need in order to remove the DePuy device completely from their hip.
By contacting the Berniard Law Firm, recipients of this implant have access to a wealth of advice and legal assistance that can help meet your lawsuit or settlement needs. The Berniard Law Firm, reachable Toll Free at 504-521-6000, will be happy to help our clients get the financial restitution they deserve for damages related to this matter.