TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Johnson & Johnson has again recalled thousands of its hip implants, 2 1/2 years after the problem-plagued health-care giant issued a recall of two other types of its artificial hips.

Spokeswomen for J&J’s DePuy Orthopaedics unit said Thursday that the company recalled the “Adept” brand all-metal total hip replacement system starting last month because a higher-than-expected percentage of them had to be replaced. Such replacements, called revision surgeries, usually are needed when an artificial joints starts causing pain, difficulty walking or other problems.