X-ray of a total hip joint replacement. Photo courtesy National Institute of Health NIH.gov
Johnson and Johnson’s (NYSE:JNJ) artificial joint department is recalling two hip replacement systems. The recall comes right after statements in a government report that said they were illegally marketing two other products. This is Johnson & Johnson’s 11th recall since last September.
They said that they were recalling the system because after analysis of the treatment it showed that more people than were expected ended up needing revision surgery. Over a five year research they found that 1 in 8 patients needed revision surgery. This basically means that the joint doesn’t fit properly.
David Floyd, president of DePuy Orthopedics in Warsaw, Ind. said, “We are committed to assisting patients and healthcare providers by providing information through multiple channels and paying for the cost of doctor visits, tests and procedures associated with the recall.” This was further supplemented by a statement from their spokesperson, Lorie Gawreluk, who said that it included monitoring how well a patient’s hip is working and paying for any corrective surgery. Products still on hospitals shelves will be removed.
On Tuesday, the FDA told the company to pull out its Corail hip system for unapproved uses. It also ordered the company to pull out another product that they were selling even without having a license to do so. This product, called the TruMatch Personalized Solution System, uses software and high-tech CT scanning technology to create a 3-D view of a patient’s knee to help a surgeon position a knee implant.
The company now remains under scrutiny of the FDA from the history of product recalls.