Cobalt Toxicity & Cobalt Poisoning Cases: Los Angeles & Nationwide
Cobalt poisoning is a severe and dangerous side effect of metal-on-metal hip replacements. Excess cobalt toxicity can cause severe pain, bone and tissue death, and other serious symptoms. In the most severe cases, patients can be left permanently blind, deaf, or facing other conditions such as degenerative heart disease and memory loss.
If you or someone you care about has a metal-on-metal hip implant, it is vital to watch out for the warning signs of cobalt poisoning and to get periodic checkups and blood tests to check for excess cobalt ion levels and negative side effects. If you suspect that you or someone you love is experiencing negative consequences from a metal-on-metal hip replacement, the experienced medical device defect attorneys at Morris Law Firm are ready to help. We will fight to ensure that you and your family get the compensation you are owed.
What is Cobalt Poisoning?
Also called “cobaltism” or “metallosis,” cobalt poisoning is a form of tissue destruction caused by excess cobalt and chromium in the body’s blood and tissue. Medical literature has shown that metal-on-metal hip implants corrode over time, releasing cobalt into the bloodstream. Corrosion is exacerbated by the grinding together of the separate metal parts of these implants as a person walks, building up cobalt levels in the bloodstream over time.
Cobalt was originally chosen for hip replacements because it was seen as more durable and less susceptible to corrosion than other materials. In the years since, medical experts have discovered that metal-on-metal implants have a significantly higher rate of failure after just a few years than other types of implants, such as ceramic or plastic. Many patients have had to undergo corrective surgery to replace or revise these implants; surgeons often identify metal blood poisoning as the ultimate reason the revision is needed. Some experts are now calling for all recipients of metal-on-metal implants to get regular blood tests in order to look out for metal blood poisoning.
Signs and Dangers of Cobalt Poisoning
Cobalt poisoning is extremely dangerous and carries a host of known side effects and symptoms. The dangerous nature of metal blood poisoning has led to numerous recalls of metal-on-metal hip replacement devices in recent years. If you have a metal-on-metal hip implant, is it vital to watch out for these signs of potential cobalt poisoning:
- Pain and irritation in the implant area
- Swelling and inflammation
- Severe discomfort and pain
- Burning sensation
- Weakness in the hip and joints
- Pseudotumor growth
- Numbness
- Blood circulation issues
- Trouble ambulating, including walking, swimming, running, or biking
- Bone loss
- Sensitive skin and skin rash
- Neurological changes and cognitive impairment caused by limited blood flow
The symptoms of cobalt poisoning are known to start mildly and gradually worsen over time. A patient may first experience a mild burning sensation or hip pain before the more debilitating symptoms begin. We strongly recommend that anyone with a metal-on-metal implant undergo periodic blood tests to catch blood poisoning at its early stages, especially if they have begun to experience any of the known symptoms or other forms of discomfort around their implant.
If you are experiencing cobalt poisoning as a result of your implant, you have the right to recover compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages that have been caused by your implant.
Morris Law Firm Will Help You Recover for Your Cobalt Poisoning Injury
If you or someone you care about has been infected with cobalt poisoning due to a metal-on-metal hip implant, or if you have been injured by another faulty medical device, contact our seasoned medical device defect attorneys to discuss your legal options. We serve clients in Los Angeles and nationwide and offer free consultations with no obligation. Morris Law Firm will fight on your behalf to see that justice is served.
