Metal-on-metal implant problems have led to an increase in hip implant lawsuits in Louisiana and other states. Although not every patient with a metal-on-metal implant will suffer from side effects such as device failure and metal poisoning, the numbers who are seem to be increasing, leading to recalls of the following implants:
- Smith & Nephew R3 Metal Liners of the R3 Acetabular System
- DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System
- Zimmer Durom Acetabular Component
These are just a few of the most recent recalls that have led to the filing of many hip implant lawsuits throughout the country. Others that have been recalled include the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II, Wright Conserve and Biomet systems.
Metal-on-metal hip implants were developed in hopes that the device material would remain intact when the ball and socket rubbed against each other. In addition, it was believed that there was less chance of dislocation when the ball of femur, or thighbone, slipped out of its socket. The implants were also thought to have less chance of fracture than those made of other substances.
Reports began to surface of problems with the hip joints as far back as 2010. Metal surfaces in the devices can corrode, causing metal ions and particles to enter the space around the hipbone and the bloodstream. One report found metal fragments between one and two centimeters in size in a patient who was suffering from complications. Recent studies have found that the hip implants have a higher failure rate than those made of other substances, requiring patients to undergo further surgeries and causing them significant pain and suffering.
These problems have led to hip implant lawsuits throughout the country. A Louisiana woman filed a hip implant lawsuit against the clinic who performed her hip replacement surgery, claiming that the clinic received financial incentives from DePuy Orthopedics to continue using the defective implants, even after they were aware of the potential problems. Another Louisiana woman filed a hip implant lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson after metal fragments were visible in photographs during her revision surgery. Her doctor testified that she may have died had the material not been removed, as they were causing metal poisoning. According to the hip implant lawsuit documents, the patient was unaware that metal fragments were a potential complication of the metal-on-metal implant in her hip.
Manufacturers maintain that all hip implants have the potential for releasing fragments into the body due to the normal wear-and-tear of the joint as people move. However, because metal-on-metal implants were primarily used in younger patients who are more active under the belief that they were more durable than those made of other substances, many of those who have suffered injury could become disabled at a much younger age than most hip replacement patients.
Interested in Louisiana Hip Implant Lawsuits?
If you or a loved one has suffered from metal poisoning from a metal-on-metal hip implant, or if a hip implant failed quickly after it was inserted, you may be eligible for a hip implant lawsuit. In addition, if a loved one has died after hip replacement surgery, you may be eligible for a wrongful death hip implant lawsuit. Contact Attorney Group for Louisiana today for a free, no obligation consultation to determine if you are able to pursue a claim.
