Although hip replacements are intended to help patients recovery mobility and lead more active lives, in some cases the opposite happens. When complications with a hip replacement are severe enough, and when the complication is caused by a defect in the design or manufacturer of the device, affected patients may be able to seek compensation for their injuries. The Zimmer Kinectiv hip replacement has been the subject of a recall, and it is expected that a Georgia Zimmer Kinectiv lawsuit may be filed on behalf of affected patients.
If you or a loved one is experiencing problems with a Zimmer hip implant or any metal-on-metal hip replacement, contact Attorney Group for Georgia today. We provide free, confidential, no-obligation consultations, and if you have case we can connect you with an affiliated Zimmer Kinectiv lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process. The time to pursue a claim is limited, so contact us today.
Why Patients Opt For Hip Replacements
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint which can become impaired for a variety of reasons. For example, a traumatic injury such as a fall may cause a bone fracture, or worn cartilage can allow friction between the bones. Osteoarthritis is another frequent source of hipbone damage. Removing the damaged areas and replacing them with a prosthetic often relieves severe pain and restores mobility for the patient.
Typically, a medical professional will attempt to treat a patient’s hip pain with other treatments before turning to hip replacement surgery. Some of the common treatments include physical therapy, pain medications, assistive walking devices and anti-inflammatory medications. If these types of treatment are not effective, and the hip pain persists or worsens, then a total hip replacement may be chosen as the best option.
Risk And Complications Associated With Hip Replacement
Complications that are specific to hip replacements include dislocation, uneven leg length and fracture. Because the prosthetic joints wear away over time, they must typically be replaced every few years. The wearing away of the materials used to create the artificial joints can cause another problem for those who undergo the procedure.
Materials such as metal, ceramic or plastic usually make up the prosthesis. As these materials rub against each other and gradually begin to wear away, the particles from the replacement joint remain in the body. This could lead to bone damage, blood poisoning, and further mechanical failure. Infection is another problem, and it is typically caused by bacteria around the prosthesis.
An operation to implant a replacement prosthesis because of device malfunction, wear and tear, infection or other complications is called a revision. These are not as simple as the first procedure, and the rate of success is not as high. Bone and muscle loss are common during this type of surgery. If the damage to the bone around the old implant is severe, a person may require a bone graft in addition to the new joint.
Zimmer Kinectiv M/L Taper Recall
Despite the benefits associated with using a Zimmer Kinectiv hip prosthesis during hip replacement surgery, some of these medical devices had residues left on them during the manufacturing process due to a process monitoring failure, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These residues have the potential of causing adverse health consequences such as pain, infections, allergic reactions and in severe situations, death. Additionally, patients who had one of these implants used during a hip replacement operation may have to undergo revision surgery to replace the defective implant. After receiving reports of problems allegedly caused by Zimmer Kinectiv M/L Taper implants, the FDA issued a Class I recall for these medical devices in June 2015.
Suppliers, hospitals and health care providers must now inventory, identify and locate all of the affected products from the lot numbers specified in the recall notice. The FDA has set up the MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program through which a patient or health care provider may report side effects of these or other faulty medical devices.
How A Georgia Zimmer Kinectiv Lawsuit Can Help
Device makers have a duty to design and produce safe products, and to warn of possible risks associated with their products. Failure to fulfill that duty can result in injuries to patients, and the device maker being held liable for those injuries.
Patients who are injured by metal-on-metal hip replacements may be entitled to compensation for damages resulting from injuries. Compensation can be based on factors including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from an injury
- Loss of income or ability to work due to loss of mobility
If a loved one dies after complications from a metal-on-metal hip implant, family members may be able to pursue claims for wrongful death damages, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Loss of financial support
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish resulting from the loss of a loved one
Affected patients and their families are encouraged to seek the advice of a Georgia Zimmer Kinectiv lawsuit attorney to discuss their legal rights and options for compensation.
Contact Us For More Information
If you have been injured by a metal-on-metal hip replacement, or to find out more about a Georgia Zimmer Kinectiv lawsuit, contact Attorney Group for Georgia. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for Georgia today.
