• 06
  • January
    2011

Last August, Depuy, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson,  recalled their ASR Hip Implants. Thousands of these popular implants have had to be replaced prematurely. Since coming on the market in 2003, Depuy has sold nearly 100,000 of these devices. Ironically, these were sold as extended use Implants, but 12 to 13% of patients have had to have them replaced after only five years of use. In addition to the implants failing and causing pain and the need for further surgery, there is a concern that metal shavings of Cobalt and Chromium could enter the blood stream. Australia, who unlike the US, tracks the success rate of medical devices raised the alarm in 2008. Depuy on the other hand didn't issue a safety warning until March of 2010.