Metal-on-metal hip replacement surgery is meant to help restore mobility, relieve pain and increase the function of a diseased hip joint. Many patients find improvement in their daily life following a total hip replacement. Some patients however, have experienced failure of the devices and other complications, including a type of blood poisoning called “metallosis.” An Ohio metal hip replacement lawsuit may be option for patients who have suffered complications as a result of a metal-on-metal hip replacement procedure.
If you or someone you love has had a metal-on-metal hip implant and experienced complications, contact Attorney Group for Ohio. 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 Ohio or another state who can help you throughout the legal process.
Why Do Patients Chose Hip Replacement Surgery?
Living with chronic pain can be extremely challenging, and hip pain can lead to the inability to perform routine daily tasks. As a result, many people dealing with hip pain seek the relief that comes from obtaining a new hip joint through a replacement surgery. This surgical procedure involves removing the problematic parts of the hip joint and replacing them with artificial implants.
In the earliest years of hip replacements, most physicians waited until patients were over 60 years old to perform surgery, with the assumption that older people would put less stress on an artificial joint. However, new technology and ways of thinking have lowered the age of those seeking a total hip replacement due to arthritis, injury or developmental issues. Instead of considering age, most doctors look at a patient’s overall health in order to determine whether a hip replacement is appropriate.
How Do Metal-On-Metal Implants Work?
A hip implant is a ball and socket joint comprised of either metal, plastic or ceramic. In a total hip replacement, the femoral head is removed completely and replaced with a metal implant, while in a resurfacing hip replacement, the femoral head is covered with a metal cap. In both cases, a metal cup is placed in the acetabulum, more commonly known as the socket.
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, medical manufacturers design and create hip implants using several different types of materials, including metal, plastic and ceramic. Most physicians choose an implant based upon the specific needs of an individual patient. A metal-on-metal implant is often considered to be the most durable, and many of today’s manufacturers of metal hip replacements continue to promote their products as the safest and sturdiest on the market, despite the reports of complications associated with these medical devices.
Risks Associated With Metal Hip Replacements
Failure of a hip implant can cause the loosening of the replacement which may result in a necessary revision surgery. According to a study performed by the National Joint Registry of England and Wales, implants with all metal components had a higher failure rate than those with mixed components. The study followed over 400,000 patients who underwent hip replacement surgery within an eight-year period and found that the failure rate for metal implants was 6.2 percent, compared to 3.2 and 1.7 for ceramic and metal-on-plastic implants, respectively. The DePuy ASR was one of the most commonly used metal hip implants, and its failure rate is reported at 12 to 13 percent within five years, as acknowledged by the DePuy Orthopedics recall of the device in 2010.
In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), issued a safety communication in 2013 regarding the issues and complications associated with metal hip replacements. Within the communication, the FDA recommends that orthopedic surgeons only use metal-on-metal implants if an alternative system, such as ceramic-on-ceramic, metal-on-polyethylene, ceramic-on-polyethylene or ceramic-on-metal, would not be effective.
The FDA has found that metal-on-metal implants may not only fail, but may cause metal particles to enter into a patient’s blood stream, resulting in metallosis or a poisoning of the blood. Those who have filed claims against metal hip replacement manufacturers in Ohio and nationwide, allege that the metal poisoning resulting from a metal hip system can cause severe groin pain, inflammation or swelling of the site and difficulty walking.
Attorney Group for Ohio can connect you with an experienced metal hip replacement lawyer who can help you throughout the legal process.
Injured Patients May be Eligible for Compensation
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 an Ohio hip replacement attorney to discuss their legal rights and options for compensation.
Contact Us For More Information
If you or a loved one suffered severe complications from a metal-on-metal hip replacement, contact Attorney Group for Ohio for more information. 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 or file a lawsuit 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 Ohio today.
