DePuy Hip Replacement Lawyers in Columbus

Fighting for the Justice & Compensation You Are Owed

After your hip replacement, you undoubtedly looked forward to restored, pain-free mobility, perhaps for the first time in years. Instead, you may be experiencing worse pain and disability than before the implant. The reason may be a defective DePuy hip implant. Our Columbus DePuy hip replacement attorneys are helping plaintiffs like you get compensation for your pain and medical expenses.

DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, manufactures two types of hip implants that have been associated with serious and potentially disabling medical complications: The ASR hip replacement and the Pinnacle hip replacement. The N.Y. Times has characterized these hip implants as “one of the biggest medical device failures in recent decades.” Patients who have experienced problems with these devices have brought thousands of lawsuits against DePuy and Johnson & Johnson in state and federal court.

The Problem with DePuy Hip Replacements

The DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System total hip replacement and the Pinnacle Hip Replacement System were intended to be advancements in hip replacement technology. These implants were supposed to be more durable and to allow for a greater range of motion with less risk of dislocation than conventional hip implants. DePuy’s intent was to develop an implant for younger, more active patients which would allow them to return to work and athletic activities and would last a lifetime or near to it. Unfortunately, these hip implants have proven far less serviceable than conventional devices, with many failing within a year or two after being implanted.

Components of a Hip Implant

The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint. As the leg is moved, the ball-shaped head of the thighbone (femur) rolls inside a cup-shaped socket (acetabulum) in the pelvis. A hip replacement has three parts that replicate the action of the hip joint: A stem, which is inserted into the femur; a ball, which is attached to the top of the stem replacing the head of the femur; and a cup, which fits into the pelvis in place of the socket.

DePuy Knew about the Problem

DePuy recalled the ASR hip replacement in 2010, ostensibly due to declining sales. Before the recall, nearly 40,000 patients were implanted with the device. Internal company documents obtained in pending suits reveal that DePuy and Johnson & Johnson were aware of problems with the ASR hip replacement several years before the recall. DePuy continues to market the Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip replacement despite its potential problems.

ASR Hip Implant's Shocking Failure Rate

Some individuals have had to endure painful revision surgeries to remove and replace their implants. Many more are expected to need this surgery in the future. In fact, data from the U.K. indicate that up to 50 percent of patients implanted with the DePuy ASR hip replacement may be forced to undergo revision surgery within 6 years of the initial implantation. Johnson & Johnson’s own analysis conducted shortly after the ASR recall estimated a 40 percent failure rate within 5 years. In contrast, conventional hip replacements typically have a failure rate of five percent at five years.

If You Have a DePuy ASR Hip Replacement or a DePuy Pinnacle Hip Replacement

Learn about our record of successfully representing plaintiffs who have been injured by defective products. If you have a DePuy ASR or Pinnacle hip implant and are experiencing complications or have been told you need revision surgery, please contact a Columbus DePuy hip replacement attorney at Rourke & Blumenthal.