DePuy Orthopaedics ASR XL hip device may be more dangerous than patients think. The hip device was recalled in August for reports the implant failed prematurely, but dangers including metallosis, inflammation and detachment have also been linked to the implant.
As a South Carolina personal Injury lawyer I’ve dealt with DePuy cases involving multiple complications and defects.
The most common known danger with the DePuy device is it’s early failure rate. Since 2008, nearly 400 patients have reported early failure of the device. Between 12-13% of DePuy hip implant patients reported device failure within the five years, much higher than the industry standard 5% failure rate. The early failure rate is dangerous because it leaves patients facing revision surgery, which has a higher failure rate and a longer recovery period than the initial implant.
Another danger of the ASR device is the degeneration of the metal-on-metal device. As the implant wears out, the two portions of the joint can detach from the bone, become misaligned or abrade against one another, creating metallic debris. The metallic debris could potentially enter the blood stream, causing metallosis. Some patients have also reported sever inflammation and damage to the surrounding muscles and soft tissue.
As a North Charleston personal injury lawyer , I suggest patients discuss with their physicians and surgeons about any potential dangers from their DePuy hip implant.