The DePuy ASR Acetabular System hip replacement recall is not the only artifical hip to be recalled in recent history. Stryker and Zimmer also underwent recalls due to malfunctioning products. Stryker recalled the Trident PSL and Hemispherical Acetabular hip replacement cups after the FDA issued a warning in January 2008. Poor sterilization and bacterial contamination were the main reasons for issuing a recall. From 2005-2008, Stryker cup users reported pain, difficulty walking, squeaking, crunching, breakage, and a wearing down of essential components. Fracturing and chipping of the bone meant patients makes it more difficult to receive a second implant in a revision surgery.
The Zimmer Durom cup was recalled due to its high rate of failure, including a chance of loosening. The cup was used in about 12,000 hip replacement surgeries in the United States, and much like the DePuy recall case, Zimmer blamed surgeons for improper placement of the implant. Surgeons, however, blamed Zimmer for poor design. In July 2008 the cup was taken off the market, three months after a well-known California surgeon voiced concerns at a medical conference.
DePuy, Zimmer and Stryker knew there were problems with their products long before they decided to issue a recall. Over 400 complaints stacked up against DePuy before their recall was announced, and they left it until last-minute to issue a recall. As a hip replacement recall lawyer, I hope everyone who has suffered due to the DePuy hip recall will assess their claim with an ASR recall attorney.
