DePuy Hip

At Ryan R. Cox & Associates, we are committed to assisting those who are dealing with a defective hip implant, including the DePuy ASR hip-replacement/ASR XL Acetabular System. DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, issued a recall of its ASR hip-replacement system in August, 2010.

Defective Hip Implants in Missouri

Symptoms may include:

  • Pain in the groin, leg or hip.
  • Swelling around or near the hip joint.
  • Limping or a change in ability to walk.
  • Constant pain and/or stiffness.
  • Collections of fluid and formation of a mass into the joint hip space.
  • Need for ambulatory aids.
  • Hip dislocation.
  • Heart: shortness of breath or chest pain.
  • Numbness of weakness.
  • Change in vision or hearing.
  • Thyroid issues: Fatigue, feeling cold, gaining weight.
  • Kidneys: Change in urination habits.
  • High levels of Chromium Cobalt in blood.

Source: The FDA’s Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant website and Ryan R. Cox & Associates, LLC

St. Louis Personal Injury Attorney Ryan R. Cox is following the issue closely and is seeing a number of issues that are impacting the welfare of patients. In many cases, aging patients are rightly concerned about going through a second surgery after being implanted with a defective hip. There are reports of metal shavings in the soft tissue around the system and of blood contamination that may result in thyroid issues. Meanwhile, DePuy’s Pinnacle hip-replacement system has been the subject of an increasing number of complaints and the Food & Drug Administration is looking into complaints involving a number of other hip-replacement systems that use metal. Unfortunately, those waiting for protection from the FDA could be disappointed.

In far too many cases, the FDA is proving ineffective at protecting the public. It relies on test results from manufacturers to determine whether a product is safe; permits clinical trials to take place in third-world countries; has been accused of allowing politics and political contributions to impact its decision-making process; and continues to allow doctors to be paid by drug and medical-device manufacturers.

St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer Ryan R. Cox notes the problems associated with the DePuy hip were not brought to the attention of the American public by the FDA, rather safety advocates in the United Kingdom reported the hip-replacement systems were associated with a high failure rate.

In January 2011, the Wall Street Journal reported Johnson & Johnson recorded a charge of nearly $1 billion related to the ASR hip recall. The government launched a Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement website after DePuy recalled more than 90,000 ASR systems in 2010. According to some estimates, about 13 percent of patients are reporting problems with the ASR System within the first five years, but by some estimates these figures could be as high as 50 percent. The actual failure rate could ultimately be much higher.

Patients who paid thousands for these surgeries, and endured the pain of recovery, are now faced with the prospect of another surgery amid conflicting reports of other health complications. Officials in the U.K. are advising patients to be tested for the presence of metal in the blood. The U.S. has issued no such warning.

IF YOU HAVE HAD A DEPUY HIP REPLACEMENT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU SPEAK WITH AN ATTORNEY WHO HANDLES THESE CASES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. DEPUY IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING A CAMPAIGN THROUGH ITS INSURER, BROADSPIRE, TO SETTLE THESE CLAIMS FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR. PLEASE ALSO BE ADVISED THAT THERE ARE STRICT LIMITATIONS PERIODS IN WHICH TO FILE YOUR CASE.

If you need to speak to an experienced lawyer about defective hip replacements in Missouri, contact Ryan R. Cox & Associates for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Free Consultation -- Call (636) 946-6886 – Protect your Rights

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ASR XL ACETABULAR HIP REPLACEMENT SYSTEM:

  • Insufficient bony ingrowth causing loosening as well as Metalosis;
  • Growth of Pseudotumors;
  • Metal allergy;

Free Consultation -- Call (636) 946-6886 – Protect your Rights