Houston, Texas woman’s DePuy ASR XL hip implants fail in both hips
HOUSTON, TEXAS—Raylene Riha and her husband, Michael, filed suit today against DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson, Inc. seeking compensation for injuries caused by failures of Raylene’s DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip Replacement Systems that have been recalled. John David Hart of the Law Offices of John David Hart in Fort Worth, Texas, is the attorney representing Raylene and Michael Riha in the lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Houston.
In October 2008, Ms. Riha underwent hip replacement surgery to have a DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System implanted in her left hip. In May 2009, she underwent hip replacement surgery again and another ASR XL Acetabular System was implanted in her right hip. Since the surgical implantation of the ASR XL Acetabular Systems in both hips, she has suffered severe and debilitating injuries. As a result, on October 11, 2010, she was required to have surgery to remove the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System from her right hip and revise it with another system.
“Raylene Riha is a 53 year-old woman who would never have elected to have the ASR XL hip system implanted in both of her hips had she known that the devices weren’t safe or effective,” said attorney Hart. “She has already undergone one revision surgery to replace the failed device in her right hip and faces the potential for revision surgery on her left hip in the future. The consequences of these failed, recalled devices have been extensive and devastating for Raylene and Michael.”
DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc., recalled its ASR XL Acetabular metal-on-metal hip replacement system on August 24, 2010. This recall came after data from a recent study indicated that the five year failure rate of this product is approximately 13%, or more than 1 out of every 8 patients. DePuy identified reasons for the failure of the hip replacement system as component loosening, component malalignment, infection, fracture of the bone, dislocation, metal sensitivity and pain. Additional complications from the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip Replacement System may include increased metal ion levels in the blood, bone staining, necrosis, swelling, nerve damage, tissue damage and/or muscle damage. This device was marketed by DePuy Orthopaedics as a high performance hip replacement system.
John David Hart and the Law Offices of John David Hart represent many individuals in the United States who have been injured as a result of this defective hip replacement system. The Law Offices of John David Hart is a group of experienced and dedicated legal professionals working to protect the rights of people wronged by the acts of others. Across the country, the firm represents individuals in cases of catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, dangerous drugs, automobile and truck accidents and oil and gas litigation. For more information, please contact John David Hart at 800.961.4278 or johnhart@hartlaw.com.