The first trial over Johnson & Johnson’s controversial DePuy hip implant device began last week – and 10,000 more lawsuits are still pending. The metal-on-metal hip implant device has been associated with failure rates as high as 49%, and new research continues to be published on the device’s link to metallosis (metal blood poisoning).

Orthopedics Study Highlights Metallosis

A recent study published in the December 2012 issue of the journal Orthopedics highlighted the issue of metallosis – a condition caused by metallic debris build up in periprosthetic (fractures around joint replacement implants) soft tissues.  Elevated metal concentrations can cause adverse reactions, including the build-up of fluids and the development of lesions, cysts and pseudotumors.  In the case of the DePuy ASR, metal-on-metal friction releases metallic ions of cobalt and chromium into the body.  In some cases, up to 100 times more cobalt and chromium have been detected in patients’ bloodstreams.

The Orthopedics study reported on a woman who initially underwent hip replacement surgery with DePuy’s ASR metal-on-metal system. However, the system failed and she had to undergo another painful surgery to remove the device and replace it with a ceramic-on-ceramic hip implant. Unfortunately, that’s not the worst of it. She now suffers from metallosis, which caused a bursal cyst on her hip flexor and compressed her femoral vein. The condition can destroy the muscles, tendons and other soft tissues around the femur and can often cut off blood supply to the femur altogether.

100,000 DePuy ASR Hip Patients May Experience Side Effects

Nearly 100,000 people may have been affected by DePuy’s recall of its ASR Hip Replacement System. Many have already had to undergo yet another painful, costly and time-consuming hip replacement surgery. Others have reported DePuy ASR side effects of metallosis or both.

If you’ve been injured due to a defective or dangerous medical device, contact The Driscoll Firm, LLC, today to discuss your situation with one of our experienced product liability attorneys to determine whether you might be entitled to compensation in the form of medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and more.