DePuy Hip Recall an Example of Modern Implant Problems

Some of the earliest attempts at hip replacement surgery used materials such as ivory and glass. Not
surprisingly, these preliminary efforts were only moderately successful. Towards the middle of the 20th
century doctors began implanting patients with prostheses made from metal and plastic, paving the way
for modern hip replacements.

But despite the fact that hip replacement materials and surgical techniques have come a long way,
problems still exist. The recent Johnson & Johnson/DePuy Orhopaedics hip recall provides a good
example. In August, the medical device manufacturer recalled two units, the ASR XL Acetabular System
and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System, due to an abnormally high (12.5 percent) failure rate. Made from
metal on metal parts, the ASR units have caused a number of problems for patients, including pain,
difficulty walking, and bone, sinew, and soft tissue damage. The failure of the ASRs casts doubt upon the
future of metal on metal hip components, but as the list below shows, every material used in modern
hip replacements has positive and negative qualities.

Ceramic

Pros: Ceramic is smooth, hard, and tends to wear significantly less than metal or plastic. This is
important because excessive wear can lead to hip dislocation.

Cons: Ceramic implants are a new technology, and long-term reliability is unknown. There is also a slight
risk of ceramic cracking, causing “catastrophic failure.”

Plastic

Pros: In hip replacements that utilize plastic, the socket portion of the hip joint is fit with a polyethylene
(plastic) liner, into which a rounded, metal head is fixed. This type of metal-on-plastic implant is
relatively inexpensive and there is a large margin of error for the surgeon because the components are
easy to insert.

Cons: Metal-on-plastic wears out quickly and has a tendency to be unstable, making it best-suited for
older, inactive patients.

Metal

Pros: Metal-on-metal implants are strong and stable, allowing recipients to participate in sports and
remain highly active.
Cons: These implants shed tiny metal fragments which many patients react adversely to (which is what
happened with the recalled DePuy ASRs).

As these pros and cons show, there is no perfect hip replacement material. Depending on your age,
activity level, and medical history, your surgeon will recommend the type of implant he or she thinks is
right for you.

And while hip replacements continue to evolve, a combination of factors, including younger patients and
greater activity levels, present new problems for surgeons. Revision surgeries (a second hip
replacement) remain quite common. Sometimes, this is due to natural causes. In other cases, such as
the DePuy hip recall, it is the result of a blameworthy manufacturer. If you received a defective ASR hip
that required you to undergo testing and/or revision surgery, you may be entitle to compensation from
DePuy. To discuss your legal options, you should speak with a hip recall attorney.