Damages in Hip Replacement Lawsuits May Depend on Recipients’ Exact Type of DePuy Hip Cup
In October 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an enforcement report on the status of the DePuy’s hip replacement recall. It begins by separating the two recalled metal-on-metal hip implant components into two sets of hip replacement parts: the ASR 100 and the ASR 300. The ASR 100 series includes 15 types of acetabular implants with cup diameters varying from 44-70mm. The ASR 300 series accounts for the remaining 14 types with the same hip cup diameters. 36,486 units were still on the market at the time of the report.
What The FDA Said about the Recall
“As part of the post-market surveillance, DePuy is continually evaluating data from a variety of sources including national joint replacement registries, published literature, company sponsored clinical trials, internal complaints data and unpublished clinical research reports. As part of the post-market surveillance activities, the firm recently received and analyzed new data regarding the ASR platform which suggests a higher than expected revision rate for the ASR XL Monoblock Metal-on-Metal (MoM) System linked to usage of monoblock MoM cups with corresponding head sizes below 50mm in diameter. As a result of the findings, DePuy Orthopaedics issued a Field Safety Notice to share the new data with the surgeons and reiterate the importance of correct implant positioning and patient selection in achieving optimal implant performance and survivorship.”
Some Hip Replacement Parts Are More Dangerous Than Others
It is well-known that DePuy’s recalled replacement hips often fail after only five years. With this report, we now know that components of a smaller diameter are vastly more likely to fail than those with larger ones. Effectively, those with the smaller hip cup parts are at greater risk for hip implant failure and revision than those with larger ones, meaning lawsuits by those who have those types of hip implants might be more successful against DePuy.
Replacement hips of larger hip cup diameters aren’t off the hook. The FDA writes, “Reasons for revision are typical for the class of large diameter MoM monoblock cups and includes component loosening, component malalignment, infection, pain, fracture, dislocation and metal sensitivity.” Nowhere does the FDA report mention complications caused by metallosis—cobalt and chromium poisoning, which can cause permanent damage, including nerve and neurological damage.
The exact type of hip implant you received may affect the pain and other side effects you experienced, and it may have also contributed to your need for a revision procedure. Finding out which hip implant components you received may affect the amount of compensation from a hip replacement lawsuit against DePuy. Find out from your orthopedist what type of hip replacement parts you have, and then contact the Rottenstein Law Group to find out your rights against DePuy by clicking on this link or by competing our contact form to the right.