What Should I Do If I Have the DePuy Hip Implant?

Houston, TXWhen a medical device is recalled, patients are understandably concerned about how the recall affects them; but when the recalled device is implanted in the patient, such as the DePuy Hip Replacement, an extra level of uncertainty is added to the situation. Patients might wonder how an implanted device like the DePuy Hip can be recalled and whether they have to wait for the device to fail before having it removed. They may also wonder whether the hip has to fail before they can speak to an attorney about a possible DePuy lawsuit in the wake of the hip replacement recall.

The short answer is that if you have a recalled DePuy hip device implanted, it is a good idea to speak to an attorney even if the hip has not failed. The main reason for this is so you can be tested for metallosis, which is caused when metal shards, caused by the rubbing action of the metal-on-metal device, separate from the device and are absorbed by the surrounding tissue.

Even if you currently have no signs that the hip is failing, you could have developed metallosis, which can eventually cause the surrounding tissue to die and the hip to fail.

If you are not certain whether or not you have a DePuy hip implant, contact your doctor to find out.

If you do have one of the recalled DePuy hip devices implanted and you feel pain in the hip, popping, grinding or clicking, or you have difficulty bearing weight on the hip, seek medical attention because there is a chance that the device is failing. Unfortunately, if the hip implant fails the only remedy is to have revision surgery to replace the hip device. That surgery can be complex and painful, involving long recovery times and a higher risk of complications.

Lawsuits have been filed against DePuy, alleging the Depuy ASR Acetabular Cup—which was included in the recall—was defectively designed, resulting in higher-than-normal failure rates. The cup was reportedly designed to be shallower than traditional hip implants, leading to an increased risk of the device failing.

The defendants, DePuy Orthopedics and its parent company Johnson & Johnson, are alleged to have not adequately warned patients about the high failure rate associated with the hip device. According to the lawsuit, the product was also not adequately tested or studied, which has resulted in an increased risk of complications, pain and revision surgeries.