A settlement has been reached this week in the Quebec class action lawsuit against the Depuy ASR hip replacement system.
These were subject to a worldwide recall in August 2010 due to problems with the metal on metal devices.
In a hip replacement, the upper leg bone, or femur, is separated from the hip socket, and the damaged head is removed (A). A reamer is used to prepare the socket for the prosthesis (B). A file is used to create a tunnel in the femur for the prosthesis (C). The hip and socket prostheses are cemented in place (D), and finally connected (E).
Illustration by Argosy.via suregeryencyclopedia.com
The settlement was reached just prior to going to trial.
The case was launched in Quebec by Kugler Kandestin on behalf of some 600 plaintiffs who were surgically implanted with an ASR XL Acetabular Hip System or an ASR Hip Resurfacing System (“ASR Implant System” or “ASR Implant Systems”),
The settlement of 20 million dollars is in favour of people who were either: (i) Québec residents at the time of receipt of the ASR Implant System or any revision thereof; or (ii) Québec residents at the time of the Defendants’ recall of the ASR Implant System; or (iii) Recipients of the ASR Implant System or any revision thereof in Québec, who were Canadian residents at that time, and who now reside outside of Canada.
DePuy device is not the only one to cause problems. This Nova Scotia man had a hip device break in his body breaking his femur. The revision surgery was difficult and left his leg about 3.5 cm shorter than the other. The Wright Profemur Hip Implant was later pulled from the market and the man is part of yet another class action suit. Photo: CBC
A revision is the surgical process to remove the original device and replace it with another. This is usually more complex and longer than the original operation.
The settlement will be reviewed by Quebec Superior Court in May before it can receive final approval
This is the latest in a series of lawsuits against the Depoy ASR system elsewhere in Canada and around the world.
For example, a class action suit in Australia was just settled for $250 million.
OTHER LAWSUITS
The DePuy ASR is not the only hip replacement system blamed for problems.
CBC Report on broken device (2012)
The Zimmer Durom acetabular metal on metal hip implant or “Durom Cup” in Canada is a device used in hip replacement or hip resurfacing surgery and was also the subject of a class action suit in Canada.
The a hip replacement device made by Wright Medical Group of Memphis Tennessee, was also the subject of a national class action.
Additional information -sources
- KuglerKandestin- (Quebec) DePuy Orthopaedics Hip implants
- Klein Lawyers LLP- Zimmer Duron Cup suit
- Klein Lawyers-Depuy Hip Implants suit
- ABC (Australia) Mar 30/18: DePuy settlement $250 million
- Telegraph (UK) 2017: DePuy safety tests flawed
- CBC-2014-News- Wright Medical Hip device- broken
- Public Health Watchdog (2013): California-alleged injuries Biomet hip device
- Wake Forest Baptist Health: Hip surgery explained video
- Encylopaedia of Surgery.com- hip surgery explained
- CBC News- 2012- hip implant lawsuits pile up
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