Johnson & Johnson says it’s under investigation by federal prosecutors over the company’s practices in marketing a line of hip replacements recalled two years ago because many failed and had to be replaced within five years.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts and the Civil Division of the U.S. Justice Department last August sent a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary an informal request for information about its ASR XL hip replacements.

J&J says in a regulatory filing that its DePuy Synthes Inc. subsidiary, which makes joint replacements, surgical trauma equipment and other orthopedic surgery products, is cooperating fully with the investigation.

The company says that subsidiary and two others have turned over documents requested by the government.

J&J recalled the DePuy ASR artificial hips in August 2010.

Stephen I. Leshner is currently handling cases for many DePuy ASR clients in the Federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL) in the Northern District of Ohio, as well as cases involving DePuy Pinnacle, Smith & Nephew R3, and Wright Medical Conserve in their respective MDL litigations.Additionally, Steve has been able to settle cases for clients with Wright Medical Profemur Z femoral neck fractures, and Zimmer Durom cups.If you or someone close to you has been injured by any Metal-on-Metal hip replacement system, please call Steve for a free consultation.