What does the DePuy hip replacement device recall mean for me? That’s what a lot of people have been asking since the end of August, when DePuy announced the recall of two of their hip replacement systems. The ASR XL and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System were the two systems that the company recalled; however, it seems that they may have started somewhat of a silent recall prior to making the actual announcement last month.

It has been reported that DePuy actually started to pull these systems in the early part of 2010. The company had stopped selling the systems in late 2009. The company had stated that their actions were attributed to declining sales, and that they were not recalling the systems. Finally, on the 26th of August, 2010, the company went through with the decision to announce a recall on the products.

It is estimated that, between the three manufacturers that have recently announced recalls on their products (Stryker, Zimmer, and DePuy), that there are more than 90,000 devices that have been recalled. What is causing these products to be part of the hip replacement recall? Well, for DePuy, it is a nearly 13% failure rating.

A hip replacement failure can mean serious injuries for the patient, aside from the revision surgery that the patient will very likely face. Patients should attempt to be very watchful for certain signs that their hip replacement device is failing. For example, swelling of the hip area, popping or clicking, pain on a regular or chronic basis, loosening or implant dislocation, and even fractures are all fairly good signs that the device is about to fail or has failed. It is also important to remember that a failed device can cause even more serious injuries that just a fractured hip, as there are several different implications that can arise.

Individuals that have sustained an injury due to a failed hip device should consult with a hip attorney who is experienced with cases that involve the failure of medical devices. Attorneys can be extremely powerful weapons when it comes to taking action against large manufacturers. However, there are time limitations involved, so those that are interested in taking action in order to be compensated should contact an attorney as soon as possible.