Joint pain is a natural but frustrating consequence of progressing through life. This pain comes from the deterioration of the joints, which can lead to a decrease in quality of life. Fortunately, modern medicine allows us to stay mobile through all parts of our lives through the use of joint replacement procedures. These procedures generally have very positive impacts on people’s lives. However, as with any procedure, there are risks to joint replacement surgeries. One such risk is the artificial hip being used in the procedure being defective, potentially from the material used or the shape of the artificial joint. If a defective artificial hip joint is used in your procedure, this can cause you suffering, which can be as bad, or even worse than your experience prior to the surgery.
If you or somebody you know have been a victim of the use of a defective hip replacement in Englewood, then contact The Law Place today. Our team of dedicated personal injury attorneys, with over 75 years of combined experience, want to provide you with the legal help needed to be confident in making a claim. Our law firm can provide you with a free consultation with a member of our team who will approach your case with sensitivity and, through legal help, can bring you closer to achieving the compensation you deserve.
To book your free consultation, contact The Law Place today at (941) 444-4444.
What Is Involved in a Hip Replacement Procedure?
A hip replacement involves the real hip joint being replaced by an artificial hip implant. This procedure is common in the United States and is most commonly performed on adults between 60 and 80 years of age, although it can be performed on adults of any age for a number of reasons. Presently, hip replacements last an average of 15 years before they deteriorate and need replacing.
The most common reason for people to require a hip replacement is osteoarthritis, although other reasons include:
- Hip fracture.
- Septic arthritis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Bone dysplasias.
As hip replacement surgery is such a major procedure, it is usually only recommended as a final option if other treatments have not worked. The procedure will be recommended if your pain and mobility issues have severely impacted your quality of life, such as your ability to work and socialize. Due to the highly invasive nature of the procedure, patients will also need to reach certain physical requirements to ensure that they can physically cope with the intense operation and rehabilitation of the surgery.
Hip replacement surgeries are done under general anesthetic or spinal anesthetic and usually take between one and two hours to complete. The procedure involves making a small incision into the hip, from which the damaged hip is removed, and the hip replacement is put in.
What Are the Side Effects of a Defective Hip Replacement?
There are a number of complications that can happen due to a faulty hip replacement:
- Severe or chronic pain at the site of the surgery.
- Infection at the hip replacement site.
- Inflammation of the hip joint.
- Allergic reaction.
- Deep vein thrombosis.
- Damage to the bone.
- Differences in leg length.
- Metallosis.
It is important to keep note of and alert your attorney to any side effects you are having as a result of your hip replacement surgery and how they are affecting your quality of life so that, if you bring a lawsuit, you can claim the correct amount of compensation for your injury.
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Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants
Metal-on-metal hip implants include an artificial ball and socket, both made of metal. Whilst these types of implants have their benefits, such as a higher likelihood that the implant will not have to be replaced, it also has some unique risks, requiring those who have a metal-on-metal hip implant to get regular checks with a physician.
The main risk of metal-on-metal hip implants is that the implant has a tendency to wear down at a faster rate. This can release tiny metal particles which enter the space around the hip replacement. This can cause pain and inflammation in the hip, though, if it is not treated, then the implant can deteriorate, causing further pain. In addition, the implant can become loose, meaning that further surgery would be needed. For these reasons, it is important, if you have a metal-on-metal hip implant, to regularly go to check-ups with your doctor so that you are less likely to deal with uncomfortable and painful symptoms.
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What Is Metallosis?
One of the most dangerous potential side-effects of a metal-on-metal hip implant is metallosis. This is a serious medical condition that results from metal particles entering the bloodstream. Usually, this will happen from parts of the metal-on-metal hip implant rubbing against each other.
Metallosis can lead to very serious health complications and needs to be treated as soon as possible, as the longer it takes to be treated, the greater the risk to the person involved’s health. It can not only affect the red tissue, muscle, and bone around the implant but also cause greater adverse reactions in the rest of the body.
It is possible to have metallosis without having symptoms. This is why it is important to get regular check-ups if you have a metal-on-metal hip implant so that you can avoid future, serious health complications.
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Design and Manufacturing Defects
There are a number of named implants from certain companies that are known to be defective and may be used in Englewood, FL. It is important that you know
Biomet
Biomet produces metal-on-metal implants for a number of countries that can be used to replace joints such as knee and shoulder implants, as well as hip implants. However, their M2a Hip Implant products have received a number of complaints, which claim that the medical device caused a number of complications in its users, such as metallosis.
DePuy ASR and Pinnacle
DePuy ASR and Pinnacle created metal-on-metal hip implants in the hope of creating longer-lasting hip replacements. Unfortunately, their implants caused a number of problems leading to a high number of complaints being brought against the manufacturer for the defective medical devices. Their ASR XL Acetabular System had to be recalled as around 40% of those who received the implant needed a second surgery after suffering from a number of serious side effects.
Smith & Nephew
The R3 Acetabular Hip System was released in the United States in 2009 and was advertised as an innovative hip replacement that could be used for severe joint injuries, sports injuries, and broken bones. Unfortunately, these medical devices led to a number of side effects, including bone fractures, dislocations, and infections. As a result, the R3 Acetabular Hip System was recalled in 2012.
Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular-Neck Hip Stems
In 2012, Stryker’s Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular-Neck Stems were recalled after a significant number of complaints due to the swift deterioration from the hip replacement. The design involved several small components, making the implant more accurate to human anatomy. These parts would become loose after corroding and could release metal particles, thereby sometimes causing metallosis.
Zimmer Hip Replacements
Zimmer recalled the Durom Cup in 2008 after a significant number of reports detailing device failure. At the point of recall, over 12,000 Americans had received this particular implant. It was claimed by the company that the failure was due to surgeons failing to implant the hip replacement correctly. However, the FDA stated that the recall was a result of false and misleading labeling.
Although Zimmer released the Durom Cup with updated surgical instructions, from 2010, the product was discontinued.
Wright Hip Implants
Wright Medical is a long-standing manufacturer of hip implants and has made a number of different hip implants over their 70 years of operation. Two of their models that have received several complaints are the Conserve Plus and the PROFRMUR Z system, with users reporting serious pain, device defects, and metal poisoning to the FDA.
What Damages May I Be Owed?
If you have suffered as a result of a defective hip replacement, then it is important that you get compensation to help you along the road to recovery. There are multiple types of compensation you can claim:
- Medical expenses – This includes the original hip replacement surgery and any other treatments or surgeries that resulted from your defective hip replacement;
- Other incidental expenses – You may incur other expenses such as rehabilitation and home nursing costs;
- Pain and suffering – As this is so subjective, you may not realize that you can receive compensation for your emotional trauma, but it is both possible and important for you to receive compensation for this reason;
- Lost wages – If you have been forced to take time off of work as a result of your defective hip implant, then you can receive the wages you lost back in compensation.
At The Law Place, we recognize how important it is for you to claim compensation for your experience and want to help you receive that compensation and justice for the physical and emotional trauma that you have gone through.
How Long Do I Have to Make a Hip Replacement Defect Claim?
If you or a loved one have suffered as the result of a defective hip replacement, it is important that you make a claim as soon as possible. According to Florida Statute 95.11, you have to bring your case to court within four years from the date of your defective hip replacement surgery. You will not be able to bring a lawsuit after these four years have passed due to the statute of limitations. It is important that you receive justice for your physical and emotional pain, so do consider this time limit if you have received a defective hip implant and suffered as a result.
What Is the Importance of Pursuing a Product Liability Lawsuit?
Whilst it is extremely important that you file a lawsuit in order to receive compensation to aid your personal recovery process, there are also more wide-reaching benefits of product liability lawsuits relating to defective medical products. Despite receiving numerous complaints, many manufacturers will continue to distribute faulty hip implants, even if they know the capability of the products to cause serious injury. By bringing a product liability lawsuit, you can highlight a legal issue with the product, which can deter companies from purchasing that particular implant, thereby stopping others from suffering unnecessarily.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney at The Law Place Today!
A defective hip replacement can have a significant impact on your physical and emotional health, leading to a decreased quality of life. At The Law Place, we want to help you to receive the justice and compensation that you deserve so that you can focus fully on your recovery. Our team of dedicated personal injury attorneys, with over 75 years of experience, adopt a personal approach in order to cater to your specific issues and needs. If you contact us, we can provide you with a free consultation with one of our attorneys, who will help you to further understand how to proceed with your lawsuit.
To book your free consultation, contact The Law Place today at (941) 444-4444.
