Johnson & Johnson Metal Hip Replacement Problems Continue to Increase a Year After Recall
Johnson’s DePuy ASR metal-on-metal artificial hip replacement problems are continuing to deepen, with the estimated number of hip failures continuing to increase as more data becomes available. More than a year after Johnson & Johnson issued a DePuy ASR recall for more than 90,000 potentially defective implants, new data indicates that the failure rate within the years after surgery may be more than twice as high as prior estimates suggested.
According to the National Joint Registry for England and Wales, DePuy ASR metal hip replacement systems may fail in nearly 30% of all patients by the sixth year, while Johnson & Johnson previously reported that between 12% and 13% may fail within 5 years.
The hip replacement lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent individuals throughout the United States who have experienced problems after receiving one of the recalled Johnson & Johnson DePuy ASR hip implant. However, our law firm is also investigating metal-on-metal hip replacement lawsuits for other brands that feature a similar design.
Metal-on-metal hip replacements, which are a relatively new design, grew to account for about one-third of the 250,000 hip replacements performed in recent years. They became popular due to the belief that the metal structure is more durable than other types of hip implants. However, sales have fallen recently amid concerns about problems with the design, which may cause microscopic metal particles to be shed into the body as the parts of the hip replacement rub against each other.
According to data from the British registry, the seven year failure rate for all types of metal hip replacements is 14%, compared with a failure rate of only 4.7% for all artificial hip implants, which may include combinations of ceramic, plastic and metal artificial hip parts.
Most doctors estimate that an artificial hip should last 15 years or more. However, due to the defective design of the DePuy ASR and other metal-on-metal hip replacement systems, thousand of individuals throughout the United States have experienced early failure with their implant, often resulting in the need for risky revision surgery.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON HIP REPLACEMENT LAWSUITS
If you, a friend or family member have experienced problems as a result of a Johnson & Johnson hip replacement or another metal-on-metal artificial hip, financial compensation may be available through a product liability lawsuits. To review the circumstances surrounding your claim with one of our metal hip replacement lawyers, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
I had a metal on metal hip fitted in march 2007 and had pain within a matter of weeks , over the next two and a bit years I was sent for physio but it persisted I was even sent for surgery for a hernia thought to be the problem , it wasn’t , numerous x rays and MRI scans this stretched out over all this time I was on strong pain killers struggling with my job missing days cause it was just too painful , late 2009 I had a bone scan and followed by an aspiration of the joint under x ray , it was then deemed it must come out , febuary 2010 I had revision only it wasn’t straight forward my femur had to be broken and I had no hip for 8 weeks till my femur was healed enough to operate , I feel I was just swept under the carpet in all this , I was 25 when first fitted a time of life when I should be thinking of raising a family and setting up home , this has set me back in more ways imaginable and has lady me depressed