Johnson & Johnson has recalled a metal hip component sold outside the United States, called Adept modular heads, Reuters reports.
The company is already facing about 10,000 lawsuits connected to another model of all-metal hip implant called the ASR, which was recalled in 2010 over its tendency to break down early and leave toxic metal debris in patients’ bodies.
The Reuters story says Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy unit informed doctors in January that the Adept modular heads, used with its Adept metal-on-metal hip replacement device, shouldn’t be used.
A company e-mail said British data indicated that the Adept implants needed to be replaced in about 12 percent of patients after seven years, and an Australian patient registry showed a failure rate of seven percent after three years.
Hip implants are normally supposed to last at least 15 years, and early failure makes costly and painful replacement surgery necessary.
In the case of ASR hip implants, also manufactured by DePuy, studies show that nearly half break down and need replacement within six years.
The case of a retired Montana prison guard who says the hip ASR device caused metal poisoning is currently being heard in Los Angeles – the first of the 10,000 lawsuits for that model to go to trial.
The story notes that the company has set aside more than $3 billion to cover costs for the ASR hip recall.
You should consult with a doctor if you have any ongoing symptoms or health concerns from a DePuy hip implant. If you have significant injuries, you should also consult with a DePuy hip lawyer to discuss your legal rights.
See the story here:
https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/15/us-jj-hips-idUSBRE91E00020130215
