The Recall Desk
Agency classClass IIOur severity:HighFDA (Devices)·Z-1917-2012·Announced 2012-07-11

DePuy Luster Hip Stems Recalled for Metal-on-Metal Articulation Concerns

DePuy Orthopaedics is issuing a Field Safety Notice for Luster and Ultima LX hip stems implanted with metal-on-metal articulations.

The agency’s classification

FDA (Devices): Class II

Class II is a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.

This is the agency’s own classification, taken from its notice. The severity score below is our assessment, not the agency’s. How recall classes work

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a high-risk medical device (hip stem) with a potential for serious harm (metal-on-metal articulation issues), but the source text does not explicitly report injuries, hospitalizations, or FDA Class I classification, fitting the 'High' criteria for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. is issuing a Field Safety Notice for Luster Cemented Polished Femoral Hip Stems and Ultima LX Cemented Polished Femoral Hip Stems. The notice applies to these stems when they were implanted with any metal-on-metal (MoM) articulation, including configurations with a cobalt-chromium (CoCr) head and an all-metal acetabular cup (monoblock or modular).

The Luster Cemented Polished Femoral Hip Stems are forged CoCr polished cemented stems used as part of a total hip arthroplasty. They are indicated for use with all DePuy bearings and acetabular cups. The recall involves 85 Luster Cemented Polished Femoral Hip Stems across 69 lots, distributed nationwide including California, Colorado, Iowa, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

Patients who have had these specific hip stems implanted with metal-on-metal articulations should contact their orthopedic surgeon or healthcare provider to discuss the Field Safety Notice and determine if any further action is necessary.

The recalled product

Product
LUSTER HIP SZ 3 Packaging: The product was packaged within inner and outer blister trays, sealed with coated Tyvek lidding. The stems were packaged within vinyl protectors, with foam taper protectors. Intended Use: The LUSTER Cemented Polished Femoral Hip Stems product are…

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Lot numbers (10)

  • Product code:152180003 and Lot numbers: A46D71000
  • A52C11000
  • A88D11000
  • AY2CE1000
  • B1XGV1000
  • BA3BF1000
  • BC6BC1000
  • BX9B71000
  • Y97FM1000
  • and Z5NBJ1000.

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

The notice also names 9 states specifically:

Part of a larger recall action

This product is one of 19 recalled by DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. under a single FDA (Devices) recall action. The agency files each product separately, so the size of the action is not visible from this page alone.

See all 19 products in this recall →

Similar recalls