Does the DePuy Recall Affect Me?

Right now about 93,000 people are asking themselves "Will the DePuy recall affect me?" and they're just the ones that have received a DePuy ASR hip implant. The total impact of this recall will be much wider and is going to affect everyone who has had hip surgery as they struggle to come to terms with the implications of this massive recall.

And of course if one company can produce a faulty implant then so can others - and they have e.g. Zimmer and Stryker

But let's stay with DePuy for now and answer the question "How do I know if the Depuy Recall affect me?"

When was your surgery?

If you had your operation prior to 2003 then this recall will not affect you.

Have I Had A DePuy ASR implant?

Every country will have a different way of reacting to this recall. In the UK the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a Medical Device Alert advising that all affected patients be notified immediately. In other countries it may be left for the individual surgeon to take on responsibility for informing patients.

By this time (October 2010) all affected patients should have been notified. However, if you haven't heard from your surgeon and you think you may have a DePuy ASR hip implant then it is very important that you contact them.

I've Had A DePuy Implant - What Next?

In the UK the MHRA have issued guidance to surgeons stating that all ASR hip replacement patients should be examined at least annually and if the patient is showing signs of abnormal pain, is limping, has a swelling around the hip, deteriorating hip function or shows an abnormality on radiological examination then the surgeon should consider: -

• measuring the levels of cobalt and chromium ions in the blood and take necessary action if measures are high
• consider revision surgery if MRI or ultrasound show any soft tissue reactions, fluid collections or tissue masses.

DePuy have also issued advice that anyone affected should be seen by a qualified specialist.

What are the signs that my hip is failing?

You may experience any of the following: -

• Swelling around your operated hip
• Popping or clicking sound when you use the joint
• Pain - particularly when walking, carrying any sort of weight or getting up from a seat
• Dislocation
• Feeling that the hip is loose
• Fractures

Do I need to seek legal advice?

In this case the answer is definitely yes. I'm not usually a great advocate of rushing to law to sort out problems but given the way that DePuy has behaved since the problems with the ASR system were first identified I strongly recommend seeking legal advice. Do not wait to see if a problem develops as there is a pretty short statute of limitations on personal injury claims.

Does the Depuy Recall Affect Me?

If you answered yes to this question then we'd appreciate you finding a few minutes to share your experiences with us. This is a worldwide problem and we need to exchange informtation both locally and globally

Learn more about:

Differnt types of hip implants. 
Choosing a hospital

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