DePuy Hip Replacement Recall Affects Patients Worldwide

DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, recalled two of its hip implant devices in the
summer of 2010 due to adverse reports received by the FDA between 2006 and 2009. A higher-than-
normal number of patients, between 12-13 percent, required revision surgery to replace the defective
devices within five years of the initial procedure.

The defective DePuy products have affected people worldwide with over 93,000 patients receiving the
implant before the recall. Thousands of patients have revisited their orthopedist to have their surgery
reviewed due to the defective components known to cause serious side effects such as toxic reactions to
an excess of metal debris released into the blood, loose cups and scar tissue formation. In fact, it was
the National Joint Registry of England and Wales that first reported that about one in eight of the DePuy
hip replacement systems failed within five years.

DePuy had a much quicker response to the negative reports regarding the safety of its hip implant
devices in the United Kingdom and Australia than in the United States. The company issued written
alerts in April and May of 2010. In Europe, DePuy was aggressive in its attempt to persuade patients who
were victims of the hip replacement recall to sign releases that would allow the company to take
possession of the defective implant after explantation (surgical removal) and grant DePuy access to the
patient’s medical records. Hip replacement lawyers throughout Europe advised their clients against
signing any such forms, concerned that DePuy would destroy important evidence.

DePuy used similar tactics in the United States. In August 2010, DePuy Orthopaedics sent a letter to
orthopedic surgeons who utilized the recalled devices. The letter included the following documents
drafted by DePuy for the orthopedic surgeons to give to patients who had received the implants:

 A Sample Patient Cover Letter

 An Information for Patients Letter
 A Medical Release Form granting DePuy access to patient medical records and the right to take
possession of implants after removal

Don’t fall victim to the tactics of a corporation that is looking out for its own benefit. If you are a patient
affected by DePuy’s defective hip implant devices, contact a hip replacement lawyer from the
Rottenstein Law Group today so that you can get the compensation to which you are entitled under the
law.