A Missouri Zimmer Kinectiv lawsuit may be an option for patients who experienced serious complications associated with metal hip implants. Living with daily pain can be frustrating and devastating, especially when it effects a person’s lifestyle. For some people, a surgical procedure to remove a damaged hip joint may help to alleviate everyday hip discomfort and allow them to regain the ability to walk, bend, or climb stairs adequately. Although some hip replacement surgeries are successful, a Missouri Zimmer Kinectiv lawsuit may be filed on behalf of affected patients and their families who have suffered pain and injury as a result of a hip replacement procedure.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Missouri. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a case we can connect you with an affiliated Missouri Zimmer Kinectiv lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Total Hip Replacement Surgery
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, hip replacement surgery consists of removing a damaged or diseased hip joint and replacing it with an artificial joint that is designed to function the same as the original. The surgery can be performed either through an incision into the area that can be several inches long or through small incisions that are less invasive, depending on the type of replacement surgery required. The severity of a patient’s joint damage may require a more invasive surgery, and a medical professional often determines which type of procedure will produce the best results.
Hip replacements can be used to treat either an injury to the joint, such as a fracture, or the following diseases:
- Osteoarthritis
- Traumatic arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
The American College of Rheumatology defines osteoarthritis as a condition that can impact all parts of a joint, including the ligaments, bone, cartilage and lining surrounding the joint. This disease is most common in older individuals and consists of more than just the normal wear and tear of joints. When found in the hip, osteoarthritis can cause inflammation of the tissues surrounding the joint as well as the breakdown of the cartilage that provides cushioning between bones.
Hip Replacement Risks
A total hip replacement is often an intensive surgery that carries the normal risks associated with going under the knife, such as blood clots or infection. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, there are other risks involved with a hip replacement that have to do with the prostheses, including the loosening of the prosthesis’ connection to the bone, a change in leg length or dislocation of the new joint.
There are several different types of hip joint prostheses made from varying materials, including ceramic, plastic and metal. Each type carries different risks, but the Arthritis Foundation lists metal-on-metal implants as having the highest failure rate. The friction that occurs between the ball and socket of the all-metal implants can create debris and metallic particles that can lead to inflammation of the tissues near the joint. This can cause significant pain, as well as the breakdown of healthy bone and the loosening of the implant. In some cases, revision surgery may be required to replace implants that have become too loose to function properly.
FDA Zimmer Kinectiv Recall
In May 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a class I recall of the Zimmer M/L Taper with Kinectiv Technology Femoral Stems and Necks implants. The device manufacturer discovered that residue left over from milling of the metal prostheses was not removed from the product before it was distributed to hospitals and other medical facilities during a month-long period. The residue has the potential to cause serious allergic reactions, infections, pain or death in those who received the tainted implants.
Hospitals and distributors of the Zimmer Kinectiv implant were asked by the FDA and Zimmer, Inc., to quarantine and return any of the 62 lots of affected products to the company for disposal. Patients and doctors can use MedWatch, the FDA’s adverse event reporting system, to report any problems with the contaminated prostheses.
How a Missouri Zimmer Kinectiv Lawsuit 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 with the help of a Missouri Zimmer Kinectiv lawsuit attorney.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Missouri. 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.
