Johnson & Johnson's artificial joint replacement company DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. has issued a recall of two hip replacement products because of higher failure rates that necessitated second surgeries.
DePuy recalled the ASR™ Hip Resurfacing System and the ASR™ XL Acetabular System after data showed that within five years, one in eight patients needed a "revision surgery," which is required when an artificial joint doesn't properly fit. Serious pain and difficulty walking can result from a faulty hip replacement.
DePuy has recalled the following hip replacement products:
• ASR™ Hip Resurfacing System
• ASR™ XL Acetabular System
According to the Associated Press, the ASR™XL has been on the market
since 2004 and was sold worldwide. The ASR™ Hip Resurfacing System
has been on the market since 2003 and was exclusively available outside
the U.S. All remaining products on hospital shelves will be immediately
removed.The hip implant recall affects an estimated 93,000 replacement
systems and more than 29 different models of hip replacement implants.
How Can I Tell if I Have a Recalled Hip Device?
DePuy suggests contacting your orthopaedic surgeon to determine if your
hip implant has been recalled. If you don't know who performed your
hip replacement surgery, ask your primary care physician or someone at
the hospital where the surgery took place.
What Is Total Joint Replacement?
Total joint replacement (TJR), also known as arthroplasty, utilizes modern
polymers and metals combined with advanced techniques to create artificial
joints capable of mimicking the natural actions of the human body while
alleviating the extreme pain caused by musculoskeletal conditions such
as hip damage caused by a serious injury or by conditions such as rheumatoid
arthritis.
Serious injury and aging are the main causes necessitating joint replacement
procedures. There are more than half a million of these procedures performed
every year. Musculoskeletal conditions are the most common worldwide cause
of severe, long-term pain and physical disability, accounting for $254
billion in medical expenditures in the U.S. every year.
What Should I Do if I Received a Defective Hip Replacement Component?
Always consult your doctor or physician regarding health-related issues, but if you or someone you care about received defective joint replacement components and had to have another surgery to correct this condition, we would like to speak with you right away. Call us or fill out a free online consultation form for an immediate evaluation of your case by Hutton and Hutton Law Firm. Use our on-line contact or call the office for a free evaluation.