The animal that is the DePuy ASR

“Metal on Metal implants have drawn scrutiny because ware can kick up metal debris that damages surrounding muscle and tissue in some patients, thereby requiring that the implants be replaced earlier than usual…Surgeons try to avoid doing hip operations because ‘revision’ surgeries carry risks and successive implants don’t tend to fit  as well as the first ones…revision surgeries ‘are technically more difficult, they take longer and the patient is more at risk of complications and the recovery is more prolonged…’revision’ surgeries are also expensive. “

Key Facts from the DePuy web site:

Which Hips have been recalled?

The Recalls involve two products post 2003:

·         The ASR XL Acetabular System

·         The ASR Hip Resurfacing System.  (This one was never approved in the US and was only sold outside the country.)

The ASR Hip is made up of ball and socket components that move against each other. These metal components wear over time and generate very small particles that can only be seen with a microscope. This is an expected process. These particles do not cause problems for most patients, but a small number of patients may react to these particles, causing fluid to collect in the joint and in the muscles around the joint. While this condition may initially be painless, if left untreated, this reaction may cause pain and swelling around the joint and could damage some of the muscles, bones, and nerves around the hip.

>>>>>>>Erm...liars!!! It now has a 50% failure rate. It has quadrupled from July 2010<<<<<<<<<<