DePuy “Poster Girl” Starts Claim for Faulty Hip Replacement

A former face of DePuy has launched a claim for faulty hip replacement compensation after her own DePuy ASR hip replacement system failed.

Penny Brown (51) of Bath, Wiltshire, is a former gymnast who, between 2004 and 2008, allowed her image to be used in DePuy´s marketing material following her own hip implant operation. In addition to Penny´s face appearing on posters and in literature promoting DePuy ASR hip replacement systems, Penny also supported patients about to have hip implant surgery and gave media interviews about the benefits of the ASR hip replacement systems.

However, in 2009, Penny noticed an aching pain in her groin and her hip replacement made a “clunking noise” whenever she walked. After seeing her doctor, Penny found out that the pain she was experiencing was attributable to her DePuy ASR hip replacement wearing out and releasing metal debris into her bloodstream which was causing an inflammation.

She was advised by her doctor that she would need revision surgery to replace the faulty hip replacement – an operation which she underwent six months ago, but has been bed-bound ever since because of complications caused by the faulty device. Penny told reporters, “I not only feel let down personally but also feel guilty that I might have encouraged others to have the ASR implanted.”

As she has been unable to work since her operation, Penny sought legal advice and made her own claim for faulty hip replacement compensation. Although Penny admitted that she had been initially delighted with how the hip device had removed the constant pain of osteoarthritis, she says her life has been devastated since the failure of her DePuy ASR hip replacement system.