DePuy Hip Replacement Lawsuits Filed against Distributors

Baltimore, MDLawsuits concerning the DePuy hip replacement devices have not only been filed against Johnson & Johnson subsidiary DePuy Orthopaedics Inc, they are also being filed against distributors of the DePuy hip. Lawsuits concerning the DePuy hip replacement, filed after the hip replacement recall, allege that the hip devices had a faulty design, causing them to have a high failure rate.

According to the Baltimore Business Journal (07/01/11), at least two lawsuits have been filed against an orthopedic surgical sales company. Those lawsuits, which seek up to $20 million in damages, were filed against the surgical sales company and DePuy.

DePuy Orthopaedics manufactured the hip replacement devices, which were then distributed through the sales company.

The DePuy hip replacement devices were recalled almost a year ago, after reports showed that more than 10 percent of the devices failed within five years of implantation. Hip replacement devices are generally expected to last 10 years or longer. When a hip device fails, patients may require revision surgery, which has a higher risk of complications.

At issue with the DePuy ASR is its metal-on-metal design, which was thought to be more durable than traditional hip implant designs. The metal-on-metal hip replacement devices were thought to be suitable for active hip replacement recipients. Critics argue, however, that metal shavings came loose from the implants during normal wear and tear. That debris was then reportedly absorbed by surrounding tissue, causing some patients to have high cobalt and chromium levels in their systems.

In some cases, tissue surrounding the hip implant became inflamed and the hip implant device failed. Some patients have had their DePuy hip implant devices removed, while more failures are expected as newer implants age.

Signs that a hip implant is failing include pain in the hip joint and limited mobility. In some cases, however, patients might not realize they have been affected by their implant until a blood test is done to determine cobalt and chromium levels in their system.

Lawsuits have been filed in the US and in Europe, alleging the DePuy hip was unreasonably defective. Approximately 80 lawsuits were filed in Wisconsin, according to the Daily Herald (06/15/11).