EXHIBIT 5.1


                                                  NEW YORK                  
                                                  PARIS                     
                                                  WASHINGTON                
COUDERT BROTHERS                                  LONDON                    
ATTORNEYS AT LAW                                  BRUSSELS                  
                                                  HONG KONG                 
1114 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS                       SINGAPORE                 
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10036-7703                         SAN FRANCISCO             
TEL: 212 626-4400  FAX: 212 626-4120              BEIJING                   
                                                  SYDNEY                    
                                                  LOS ANGELES               
                                                  SAN JOSE                  
                                                  TOKYO                     
                                                  MOSCOW                    
October 31, 1996                                  BANGKOK                   
                                                  JAKARTA                   
                                                  HO CHI MINH CITY    
                                                  HANOI 
                                                  BERLIN 
                                                  DENVER   
                                                  MEXICO CITY               
                                                  ASSOCIATED OFFICE         
                                                  RIOS FERRER Y RIVERA, S.C. 
                                                    
                                                                             
                                   
DePuy, Inc.                  
700 Orthopaedic Drive
Warsaw, Indiana  46581
                                   
Gentlemen:                       
                         
     We are rendering our opinion with respect to the legality of the 9,485,069
shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Shares"), of DePuy, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), issuable pursuant to the DePuy, Inc.
1996 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), which shares are being registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the Company's Registration Statement
on Form S-8 dated October 31, 1996 (the "Registration Statement").

     As counsel to the Company, we are familiar with the corporate proceedings
of the Company relating to the authorization for issuance of the Shares, and
have examined such instruments, documents, records and certificates, and we have
made such other inquiries and investigations of fact, as we have deemed
necessary for purposes of the opinions herein expressed.

     Based on the foregoing, and having regard for such other legal and factual
considerations we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when
sold at or above par value and in accordance with the Plan, will be legally 
issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

     We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                                    Very truly yours,


                                                    /s/ COUDERT BROTHERS