J&J Recalls Metal Hip Implants Sold Overseas

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) last month recalled a metal-on-metal hip component it sold abroad because the failure rate for the device was higher than expected.

Doctors outside the United States were told by the company to cease use of its Adept hip implant after a U.K. database showed that the implant had a failure rate of 12 percent, according to the Associated Press (AP). The recall is issued only for the ball located at the top of the artificial hip device.

Some 7,500 Adept hip implants were distributed in 21 countries excluding the U.S. The safety notice about the implants was issued on January 14, reports AP.

In 2010, Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Orthopaedics unit recalled two metal-on-metal hip implants -- the ASR Hip Resurfacing System and ASR XL Acetabular System -- over reports of high failure rates. More than 90,000 ASR hip implant devices were ultimately recalled.

Thousand of lawsuits have since been filed by patients who claim the devices caused them severe pain or led to injuries that left them immobilized.

The first of those cases to come to trial is now being heard by a jury in Los Angeles, according to the AP.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by an unsafe medical device, contact Sokolove Law today for a free legal consultation and to find out if a product liability lawyer may be able to help you.

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