JOHNSON & JOHNSON RECALLS 2 HIP REPLACEMENT SYSTEMS
Johnson & Johnson's artificial joint business is recalling two hip replacement products, just two days after getting hit with a government warning that it is illegally marketing two other products. It is the 11th J & J recall since September 2009.
DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. said Thursday it is recalling two hip replacement products because new data, about to be released, show higher-than-expected rates of patients needing a second hip replacement procedure.
Within five years, one in eight patients needed a revision surgery. That's required when an artificial joint doesn't fit perfectly, causing pain and difficulty walking. The products are the ASR Hip Resurfacing System and the ASR XL Acetabular System.
Each of the metal systems is used to replace a worn or weakened part of the hip, which consists of a socket at the outer edge of the pelvis and a rounded bone atop the thigh bone that fits into that socket like a ball. Total hip replacement involves replacing both parts at once.
The ASR Hip Resurfacing System replaces the ball portion of the hip and has a metal stem that fits into the top of the hip bone, or femur. The ASR XL Acetabular System is a concave metal piece used to provide a smooth lining for the acetabulum, the bowl-shaped socket in the pelvis.
DePuy, part of Johnson & Johnson of New Brunswick, N.J., said data it received from the National Joint Registry of England and Wales showed that within five years, about 12 percent of people getting the hip resurfacing system and about 13 percent of those getting the acetabular system needed corrective surgery. Women were more likely to need a second surgery than men.
The acetabular system, launched in 2004, has been sold worldwide. The resurfacing system, introduced in 2003, is only sold outside the U.S.
DePuy decided last fall to discontinue both. The company is working on developing a new generation of both products.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently told DePuy to stop selling its Corail Hip System for two unapproved uses. It also ordered the company to provide information needed to review another product the agency said DePuy had been selling even though it was never approved. It's called the TruMatch Personalized Solution System, and uses software and high-tech CT scanning technology to create a 3-D view of a patient's knee to help a surgeon position a knee implant.
Johnson & Johnson recently recalled millions of 1 day Acuvue TruEye contact lenses sold in Asia and Europe because some users complained of stinging or pain when they inserted the lenses.
Johnson & Johnson remains under scrutiny by the FDA, Congress, and federal prosecutors over eight previous U. S. recalls of non-prescription medicines since last September. Those included millions of bottles of Tylenol, other pain relievers and cold medicines for children and adults, for problems including bacterial contamination and tiny metal savings found in some bottles.
Contact a DePuy ASR Hip Implant Attorney Today
Davis & Crump is now handling claims for individuals who have been injured by a DePuy ASR Hip Implant. Davis & Crump is experienced in medical device product liability cases and settlements. If you or a loved one has been injured by a DePuy ASR Hip Implant, contact us at 1-800-277-0300 or send us an email at info@daviscrump.com.