British Orthopaedic Association Heightens DePuy Failure Rate Fears

Research published by the British Orthopaedic Association indicates that as many as 49% of the DePuy ASR Hip Replacement Systems implanted in Ireland since 2003 could fail within the next six years.
Orthopaedic surgeons at the British Hip Society Annual Conference in Torquay this month considered the topic of large diameter metal-on-metal –bearing total hip replacement systems, with particular attention to the DePuy ASR hip replacement recall.
In Ireland, 3516 people received the faulty hip replacement system and, in figures which contradict assurances given by the Health Service Executive, it was announced that new projected failure rates for the DePuy ASR hip replacement systems are 35% within four years and 49% within six years.
The surgeons also recommended that patients being monitored for potential hip replacement system failure should have MRI or CT scans to detect any collection of fluid around the hip area, or the presence of cobalt or chromium ions which can lead to neurosurgical problems.
The publication also confirmed that revision surgery for DePuy ASR hip replacement systems can be more complicated than the original implant when soft tissue damage has been sustained, and that specialist hip reconstruction surgery may be required in these instances.
These findings add further weight to lawsuits and class actions currently going through the courts in the United States, where over 500 people have already filed compensation claims against DePuy Orthopaedics Inc.