DePuy Hip Replacement Suits Coming

Chicago, IlDePuy Orthopedics has recently issued a voluntary recall of two of its hip replacement implants. In a statement on its Web site, the company says, "Data recently received by the company shows that more people than expected who received the ASR Hip System experienced pain or other problems." The two systems are the ASR XL Acetabular System and the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System.

"There are absolutely problems," says attorney Steven Levin from the firm of Levin & Perconti. "These hip replacements are clearly failing," says Levin. According to his research so far, there is a failure rate of somewhere between 10 and 50 percent." "We fear that could go higher."

Levin's firm is currently investigating complaints from clients with DePuy ASR Hip Systems and gathering data in preparation for coming suits. So far, Levin is focusing on two problems.

"The replacement is difficult for doctors to implant," says Levin. "If they are off just a little, there is a good chance it is going to dislocate."

"The other problem is the metal-on-metal friction. There is a chemical reaction between chromium and cobalt that can be toxic to certain people—they are going to have blood monitored for possible future problems."

The ASR hip replacement systems were marketed to a young cohort—people between the ages of 35 and 50—although some older Americans also were implanted with the same system.

"Clients who have problems may have to undergo revision surgeries," says Levin. "The redo can present problems as well. It doesn't always work and it has a greater chance of failure.

"A person who could have a lifetime of pain," says Levin.

"For people who have one of these, and have not yet experienced any problems—this is a very anxious time," he adds.

DePuy Orthopedics is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

Steven Levin is the co-founder and senior partner of Levin & Perconti with more than 25 years of experience as a personal injury litigation attorney. Levin has returned a long list of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients in substantial personal injury and wrongful death cases. Levin and the firm are also well known for its medical malpractice and nurse home negligence litigation.