DePuy Knee and Hip Failures Are Similar and Lead to Class Action Lawsuits

DePuy Knee Lawsuit News

DePuy and Johnson & Johnson face multi-million dollar class action lawsuits over their failed joint replacement devices

Friday, February 8, 2019 - Johnson & Johnson is in the joint replacement business in a big way producing both artificial knees and replacement hips through its DePuy Orthopedics division. Both products have experienced extraordinary success, however, lawsuits against the company are chipping away at earnings. Just the other day, Johnson & Johnson agreed to settle multiple class action lawsuits against their DePuy Orthopedics division alleging the company's "unlawful marketing hip implants " according to www.medicaldevice-network.com. The class actions focused on the ASR XL and Pinnacle Ultamet hip replacement devices, both of which were recalled in 2010 and 2013 respectively. The multi-state class actions were settled for $120 million dollars. DePuy knee patients are consulting with DePuy knee replacement lawyers to file a claim to be reimbursed for their expenses and pain and suffering.

The DePuy hip devices fail due to the metal-on-metal construction that causes metal shavings to invade the joint area causing infections, autoimmune problems, and mechanical malfunctions. Patients have complained of severe pain from infection, allergic reactions and tissue death. It appears as if Johnson & Johnson's similar medical device, the DePuy artificial knee may meet a similar fate to their artificial hips. DePuy knee replacement patients have experienced unacceptably high percentages of knee replacement infections and de-bonding that has created a need for revision surgeries.

Knees and hips are two of the most heavily-worked joints in the human body. Knees, for example, are required to carry the full weight of an individual with each and every step they take. Add going up or down stairs, lateral motion, and running and jumping and the knee can be forced to endure five to ten times a person's body weight. Depuy Orthopedics knows this and warns potential knee patients to be careful before blindly accepting a doctor's knee replacement recommendation.

Depuy warns customers, "As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary. The performance of knee replacements depends on your age, weight, activity level, and other factors. There are potential risks, and recovery takes time. People with conditions limiting rehabilitation should not have this surgery. Only an orthopedic surgeon can determine if knee replacement is right for you." This warning limits the pool of potential knee replacement patients to only those with a very specific and narrow physical profile and is largely ignored by orthopedic surgeons who jump at the chance to practice their trade on almost anyone. The vast majority of artificial knee replacement patients are over age 65 and many are as old as 80, much too old to endure the rigors of years of strenuous physical therapy, Others have osteoporosis to one degree or another and lack the bone structure to bond thoroughly with the artificial knee joint. The most glaring characteristic that prohibiting successful knee replacement is obesity and being overweight. Experts agree that patients suffering from all but the most severe osteoarthritis pain could alleviate their knee pain problems simply by losing weight Should the DePuy replacement knee warning be observed to the letter, very few knee replacements would ever get done.

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