De Puy hips recall
07 I 04 I 11
DePuy ASR hip replacement
implants have been in clinical use in the UK since
2003. However, the manufacturer has now determined that
the revision rate for all devices, in the ASR systems, at five
years is higher than expected across the entire size range.
This discovery has led to De Puy now recalling all ASR
system hip replacement implants. The recall includes those involved
in both the total hip replacement surgery and hip
resurfacing.
Hugh James are representing patients who have been part of this
recall and have either had their De Puy implants replaced or are
being investigated to determine if they will need to.
De Puy’s recall includes
funding the costs of investigation and treatment and patient’s
expenses. However, in conjunction with a handful of other law firms
across Britain, Hugh James has been negotiating for the payment of
compensation for all of the effects of having these implants
treatments.
This compensation may include the payment of loss of earnings or
nursing care. In addition, the claim will include an independent
review of the long term effects of the implant and its
revision.
Further information
The DePuy ASR system consists of:
- ASR acetabular cups for hip resurfacing arthroplasty or total
hip replacement
- ASR surface replacement heads for hip resurfacing
arthroplasty
- ASR XL femoral heads for total hip replacement
The MHRA published a recall notice on the 7
September 2010. To view this notice please visit the
MHRA website
The British Hip Society held
its annual conference from 2nd – 4th March and published a
paper
on the subject of large diameter metal on metal bearing total hip
replacements, including the De Puy ASR devices.
The presented results show a higher than anticipated early failure
rate. These range from a 21% revision rate at four years
(potentially rising to 35% if all currently known painful implants
progress to revision) to 49% at 6 years for the ASR XL device.
Other devices have a revision or impending revision rate of 12 – 15
% at 5 years.
Patients who have these implants but have not
yet been contacted by the clinics or hospitals who fitted them
should contact them without delay. The recall does not apply to any
other De Puy products but patients who have any form of metal on
metal hip implants should contact their GP for advice