Lawyers have been meeting with victims of a faulty DePuy hip replacement across the United States since 2009. However it is only recently that lawyers across the nation have followed suit and begun filing DePuy lawsuits elsewhere. Currently lawyers in Australia, England and Canada are all in the process of meeting with victims and filing a case against the manufacturer of DePuy hip replacements, DePuy Orthopedics, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.
In addition to the DePuy hip recall there have been several other metal on metal hip replacement products that have been recalled due to their high failure rate. These include the DePuy Pinnacle, the Biomet M2A Magnum, the Wright Conserve Plus, the Wright Conserve Profemur, the Stryker Rejuvenate and the Zimmer Duron Cup.
Studies have indicated that the DePuy ASR hip replacements come with a failure rate of around 12 to 13 percent which is much higher than what was first projected. However, Australian studies have indicated that the failure rate is actually must higher than this with the Australian device registry recording the failure rate at around 40 percent. What this means is that 2 out of every five people that receive this hip replacement will experience serious complications and most likely require a revision surgery.
DePuy hip implants are considered metal on metal implants which means that the two metal components can rub together, splinter or fracture if they are not implanted in the perfect position. This can cause metal particles to break off and end up in your blood stream, causing metal staining and metal poisoning. Furthermore, these hip implants can cause extreme pain that may require another surgery to correct the problem and replace the implant.
DePuy Orthopedics failed to conduct adequate trials of their product before assuming it was safe and effective. This has caused over 10,000 victims to step forward and file a DePuy lawsuit. The first individual trials have already commenced and one victim was awarded $8.3 million in damages earlier this year. Multidistrict litigation is set to commence in May 2013.
There is still time to speak to a DePuy hip replacement attorney and determine if you have a case and whether you should file a DePuy lawsuit. Time is limited, however. Contact McEwen Law Firm on 1-800-732-3070 today for more information on filing a DePuy hip lawsuit and your legal options.