A Maryland metal hip replacement lawyer may be able to help people who experienced severe complications associated with a metal hip implant. When a joint begins to wear out, doctors will attempt to replace it using manmade structures. While this often allows patients to regain mobility without pain, some have reported additional problems caused by metal-on-metal hip replacements. These complications have prompted many people to file a Maryland metal hip replacement lawsuit with the help of an experienced metal hip replacement lawyer.
If you or someone you love has had a metal-on-metal hip implant and experienced complications, contact Attorney Group for Maryland. We can help answer your questions and explain your options to you. If you choose to pursue a case, we can connect you with an affiliate hip replacement lawsuit attorney in Maryland or another state who can help you throughout the legal process.
Diagnosing Osteoarthritis
A common condition requiring joint replacement is osteoarthritis, and occupations that place continual stress on joints can lead to this condition. It also more common in patients who are obese, have suffered joint injuries, are of advanced age or have been diagnosed with bone deformities. Osteoarthritis develops slowly as the cartilage on the ends of joints wears down over time. Patients suffering with this condition often experience the following symptoms:
- A feeling resembling grating when the joint is in use
- Pain after movement or during
- Inability to use the joint to its full flexibility
- Bits of bone called bone spurs that form around the joint
- Noticeable stiffness after inactivity
- Osteoarthritis can become debilitating, eventually requiring the replacement of the joint to allow the patient to continue normal daily activities.
Replacement Options
There are many different options available to patients in need of a joint replacement. Health care providers will choose the option that they feel is best for the patient’s needs. Four types hip replacements include ceramic-on-ceramic, ceramic-on-plastic, metal-on-metal or metal-on-plastic.
Each type of joint has its own positives and negatives, but several past patients are reporting debilitating side effects accompanying the use of metal-on-metal implants. In fact, the issues have been common enough that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has encouraged the recall of some types of metal joints until the problems can be further evaluated and repaired.
Reasons for a Maryland Metal Hip Replacement Lawsuit
While an internal memo from Johnson & Johnson has revealed that the manufacturing company had knowledge of the issues accompanying metal-on-metal joints since 2005, it too until 2010 for patients and doctors to be notified of the risks, as reported by CBS News.
The deputy director of the Public Citizen’s Health Research Group called the metal-on-metal hip replacements a “very large uncontrolled experiment exposing millions of patients to an unknown risk.” This is referring to the fact that long-term consequences of a metal-on-metal hip replacement did not have enough time to be discovered in the short period that the product was tested. An investigation into complaints made by past patients has discovered the following problems:
- Tissue surrounding the joint can be affected by cobalt and chromium ions leaking from the artificial joint
- High levels of toxins can be released into the body
- Metal ions can cause damage to kidneys, liver, lymph nodes and spleen
- Ions can be released into the bloodstream
- Muscle and bone can eventually be destroyed by seeping ions
While the full extent of this damage is unknown, scientists have claimed that the effects of these ions cannot only cause the destruction of tissue and bone, but could also affect a patient’s genes by altering his or her chromosomes. The full effect of these changes is not yet known, since there are many patients who received metal hip replacements and have not yet realized the consequences.
Settled Cases
Manufacturing giant Johnson & Johnson has been the target of thousands of lawsuits concerning the issues related to this product. Many patients have received revision surgery to attempt to rectify the problems and, as of November 2013, the company had paid out over $2.5 billion dollars in settlements to customers who claimed the metal-on-metal hip replacements had failed them. One of those cases is a man who claimed that he was a victim of the metal particles. He received an award of 8.34 million by a California jury.
How a Maryland Metal Hip Replacement Lawyer Can Help
Device makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a device maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by the fault of others may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The Time You Have to File a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Maryland. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to 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 or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
