The DePuy Articular Surface Replacement (ASR) accounts for 75 percent of the hip replacement complaints, according to an analysis done by the New York Times. A worldwide recall was announced by the Johnson & Johnson division DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. last August on two of its hip replacement systems, the ASR XL Acetabular System and the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing Platform. Not withstanding its hip replacement troubles, Depuy has passed another product through the beleaguered FDA approval.

In 2011 so far, the number of complaints on metal on metal hip implants registered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already reached more than 5,000 as shown in the analysis. The year 2011 is still on its third quarter but the number of complaints received this year so far has already surpassed the combined number of complaints received by the FDA in the previous four years. Patients who've had these devices have reported experiencing pain, swelling and difficulty walking which are among the symptoms of metallosis.

Contrary to the 15-year life expectancy of a hip implant, many recipients have had their hip replacements removed after just a few years due to failure of the medical devices. Approximately one third of all hip replacements each year used metal on metal type of implants. Pain to severe reactions to chromium and cobalt particles that separate from the device as they wear inside the body are the reported complaints on the metal on metal implants.

Most of these complainants have used the DePuy ASR, according to the New York Times analysis. DePuy had already announced its intention to cover reasonable and customary costs of monitoring and treatment for services, including revision surgeries, associated with the recall of ASR. By settling claims with patients before they fully understand their legal rights or the likely cost of their hip-related medical costs in the future, critics alleged that the company had done it more to save money.

Because of problems with the devices, many surgeons have simply stopped using them, regardless of the manufacturer, instead favoring devices that are a combination of metal and plastic components. The ASR system had a failure rate of up to 49 percent after six years according to the data from a study released in March by the British Orthopaedic Association and the British Hip Society, nearly four times the rate cited by DePuy when it announced the hip replacement recall.