As a hip replacement recall lawyer it’s disappointing that most implant recalls are a result of regulatory and economic pressures on the company, rather than an outright acknowledgment that the device is flawed. DePuy’s recent recall of its ASR XL Acetabular System, unfortunately, exemplifies that theory.
DePuy’s problems started in 2005 when it introduced the implant device without clinical trials, with legal clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. But in three years, the FDA has received more than 300 complaints about early failure of the ASR hip device.
It wasn’t until 2010 when DePuy withdrew its ASR hips from the market due to declining sales. Shortly after, on March 10, 2010, a New York Times article exposed the reported failures with DePuy hips. A London Times article followed, reporting 40,000 devices were under review for medical debris from the implants.
On July 17, 2010, the FDA announced the recall of the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System, which was only sold overseas.
The time it took for DuPuy to acknowledge the defects of their implant is disappointing as a hip implant attorney. While the company put fault on doctors who installed the implants, thousands of patients were facing pain and difficult revision surgeries to replace the defective device . It’s incredibly important to have a DePuy hip recall attorney on your side to make sure that your legal rights are protected.