Metal Hip Replacement Attorney
Hip replacement manufacturers have faced a wave of serious lawsuits over the last two decades, shelling out billions of dollars to injured victims. In particular, hip replacement manufacturers have faced claims that their metal-on-metal (MOM) hip replacement devices are defective as designed, posing a serious and undisclosed risk to all patients who had such devices installed over the last twenty years. The metal components are known to poison the body over time and cause a series of complications.
Many of the devices have been recalled in recent years as a result of the dangers, and there are currently no FDA-approved MOM total hip replacement devices currently being sold in the U.S. Nevertheless, some metal hip replacement components are still on the market. Additionally, before the recalls, thousands of patients were given dangerous, defective implants and have suffered serious injury and illness.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a defective metal hip replacement device, the seasoned medical device defect attorneys at Morris Law Firm are here to help. We will fight to get you the compensation you are owed for the harm you and your family have suffered.
Dangers of Defective Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacements
All hip implants carry a risk of complications. Patients’ bodies may reject the artificial hip, there might be an error in the surgery, the device could come loose or break apart over time, or the installation may lead to infection or chronic pain. Defective devices are more likely to cause illness or injury due to faulty components or design. In addition to those standard hip replacement risks, metal-on-metal hip replacement devices carry additional problems.
Unlike hip replacement devices that rely on ceramic or plastic components, MOM hip systems include a ball, stem, and shell, all constructed from metal materials. With use over time, those various metal parts rub against each other. The metal-on-metal scraping causes metal bits to flake off and enter the body. Over time, the tiny metal fragments can build up in the soft tissue surrounding the implant and in the patient’s bloodstream. This buildup of metal fragments can lead to blood poisoning and other problems, a condition known as metallosis.
Tissue, nerve, and bone damage caused by the metal fragments escaping around the implant site is also called “adverse local tissue reaction” (ALTR) or “adverse reaction to medical debris” (ARMD). Over time, the damage can build, leading to severe and permanent injury, illness, disability, and even death.
Damage Caused by Metal-on-Metal Hip Devices
The buildup of metal fragments in the blood and tissue can rot healthy red tissue and muscle around a hip implant, turning it into a gray, dead mass. The conditions associated with metal buildup in the blood and tissue have a variety of symptoms and consequences, including:
- Inflammation
- Chronic and severe pain in the implant area, or around the hip and groin
- Bone loss
- Tissue death (necrosis)
- High levels of metal in the blood
- Loosening of the implant in the bone
- Rashes and skin irritation
- Limitations on the patient’s ability to run, walk, swim, or perform other functions
- Numbness
- Renal or thyroid impairments
- Complications from limited blood flow, including circulation issues and neurological problems
- Organ damage
- Vision loss
We Hold Hip Replacement Manufacturers Liable for Harming Innocent Patients
If you or a loved one has a metal-on-metal hip replacement device and has contracted any illness as a result, you have the right to seek compensation for the harm you have suffered. Morris Law Firm handles claims brought against any and all metal hip manufacturers in the orthopedic injury, whether or not they have yet issued a recall. We field claims against major brands including, but not limited to:
- DePuy, including DePuy Pinnacle and DePuy ASR hip replacements
- Smith & Nephew, including the BHR and R3 hip implants
- Stryker, including the Stryker Rejuvenate replacement, ABG II replacement, Tritanium Acetabular Shells, and LFIT V40 hip component
- Zimmer, including the Durom Cup, the M/L Taper hip prosthesis and Versys femoral head,
- Biomet (acquired by Zimmer), including the M2a Magnum hip replacement
- Wright Medical
Even if You Have No Symptoms, You Could Be At Risk
Not all people who suffer from metallosis and other conditions caused by metal-on-metal hip replacements are symptomatic. Many patients do not develop symptoms for months or years after a metal hip device is installed, due to the slow accumulation of metal flakes in the bone, tissue, and blood. If you have a metal-on-metal hip replacement device installed in your body, or if you have a loved one with one of the recalled devices, it is vital to get periodic blood tests.
Orthopedic experts recommend blood tests every three months as long as the metal hip is still installed to check for elevated metal ion levels, regardless of whether the patient has symptoms. You may discover that you have elevated metal ion levels in your bloodstream and are at risk for serious medical problems to soon develop. Even if you have no symptoms yet, you might still be entitled to compensation from the device manufacturer.
Call Morris Law Firm to Investigate and Prosecute Your Hip Device Defect Claims
If you have suffered a personal injury or experienced adverse effects as a result of a defective metal-on-metal hip replacement or another faulty medical device, contact our attorneys to discuss your legal options. We serve clients nationwide and offer free consultations with no obligation. Morris Law Firm will fight on your behalf to see that justice is served.
