Wednesday, August 1, 2012

History of the DePuy ASR Hip Replacement Recall




The Depuy ASR Hip Replacement System was recalled by its own maker- DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. on August 26, 2010 because of the reported increase of patients experiencing unpleasant consequences and revisions immediately following the procedure. However, this move by its manufacturer is believed to be a delayed reaction since it has learned about the potential dangers of these devices years prior to its voluntary recall. In 2006, they found out that their products were causing problems among women and those whose bones are too weak. But instead of addressing these problems immediately, the manufacturer waited until thousands have already been affected with its complications.

After Depuy ASR Hip Replacement System gained approval to be marketed for healthcare use through the 510 (k) evaluation system, surgeons were immediately impressed at how much these devices have improved patients’ conditions, not knowing about its long-term side effects. Being approved by the 510 (k) process means these products did not have to be clinically tested on actual patients. Without adequate testing, there is no way these complications would have been predicted.

In 2008, the Food and Drug Administration received patient concerns on ASR hip implants with 13 percent of its recipients needing to experience painful and complex implantation corrective procedures. One year later, these products were discontinued in Australia. DePuy Orthopaedics has also announced that the removal of these defective health items will soon be implemented worldwide. However, the company has relayed public information that it has recalled the ASR hip replacement from the Australian market due to declining sales.

In March 2010, orthopedic surgeons were warned of the products’ increasing failures within only a few years after its placement. By June of the same year, the first ASR hip replacement recall lawsuit was filed. Two months later, DePuy Orthopaedics finally issued out a global recall of the ASR hip replacement system, together with the ASR Hip Resurfacing System which was only made available outside the United States.

To date, thousands of lawsuits have been directed at the DePuy ORthopaedics Inc. mainly because the manufacturer was not too careful in assessing the safety of their hip replacement products before bringing it forward for thousands of people to use. In case you are one of these unfortunate people who were implanted with the defective DePuy ASR hip replacement system and your surgeon has not contacted you yet, you might want to find out about the necessary medical interventions you may undergo, or better yet, ask for more information on the latest DePuy hip recall news. Although these controversial side effects do not manifest in all patients who have acquired the metallic hip implants, it is highly recommended that you visit your doctor for assessments from time to time especially if you start experiencing something out of the usual. To know more on hip replacement click this DePuy ASR Lawsuit site.


References:
tga.gov.au/newsroom/btn-dupuy-recall.htm#recall
hiprecalllaw.com/a-timeline-of-the-catastrophic-failure/
fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/MetalonMetalHipImplants/ucm241604.htm


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