DePuy hip replacements bring about compensation claims from suffering patients

Channel 4’s Dispatches programme ‘Under The Knife’, aired on 16 May 2011, highlighted the pain and suffering endured by a large number of hip replacement patients implanted with a particular model of artificial hip.

About DePuy:

The hip in question is the ASR (Articular Surface Replacement), developed and marketed by DePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of the well known Johnson & Johnson company. The hip had been used in over 93,000 operations (approximately 8,000 of these in the UK and Ireland) before DePuy voluntarily issued a worldwide recall in August 2010.

Some experts have suggested DePuy had reason to believe there were serious problems with the ASR models long before the recall was announced. DePuy have responded to such claims by arguing they acted on concerns and issued the recall as soon as they became aware of possible complications.

Health problems associated with DePuy hip replacements:

As reported in Dispatches, many recipients of the ASR unit, from across the globe, have reported suffering painful side effects of their hip replacement and many thousands have undergone further surgery to replace the ASR hip they originally received.

Problems surrounding the hip are reported to stem from the use of two metals – Cobalt and Chromium – used in its manufacture. Some recipients of the hip are reported to suffer from a condition called metallosis – a form of blood poisoning – whereby dangerously high levels of these metals are found in the bloodstream. Further reported problems with the hip include erosion of the tissue that surrounds the hip, prolnged pain, swelling and problems with mobility.

What to do if you are concerned about your hip replacement:

If you believe you have received a DePuy hip replacement or are concerned that your hip unit may be DePuy, contact Holmes & Hills and we can advise you on:

How you can find out what type of hip you have been fitted with

Whether any problems you may have might be linked to your hip replacement
Who you should approach if you require medical attention in relation to your hip
How you can go about making a claim for compensation against DePuy
Recipients of the ASR model hip replacement are advised to seek specialist and independent legal advice and guidance from a personal injury solicitor before any possible attempt is made to contact DePuy. 

Are you entitled to compensation?

As a result of their pain and suffering, many patients have begun compensation claims against DePuy and Johnson & Johnson, both here in the UK and in countries around the world.

Holmes & Hills Solicitors have a large personal injury and clinical negligence team which represents compensation claimants nationwide. If you believe you may have received a DePuy ASR or ASR XL hip, and think you may be entitled to hip replacement compensation, please call our personal injury team on 01376 529298.

Holmes & Hills’ personal injury and clinical negligence specialists operate all their personal injury claims on a no win no fee basis.