Have you or someone you care about suffered complications after receiving a hip replacement? Total hip replacements or hip resurfacing surgeries are intended to make you life better and decrease or get rid of pain. They involve major surgeries with significant times for recovery, but the end result should be the patient enjoying an improved quality of life. Unfortunately, it has not happened this way for many patients with metal-on-metal hip implants. In recent years, metal-on-metal hip replacement systems have been marketed as the most advanced technology and longest lasting for candidates of hip replacements. Due to their alleged durability, they are often chosen for younger or more active recipients of hip implants.
If you underwent an implantation of a metal-on-metal hip replacement system and never quite felt just right again following your surgery or if you never completely healed or returned to the level of physical activity you were able to do prior to your hip replacement, it could be that you received a defective device. Doctors are discovering that metal-on-metal hip replacement systems fail at rates that are higher than normal. Oklahoma Metal on Metal Hip Replacement Attorneys are bringing lawsuits against the manufacturers of these defective hip implants.
Injuries Linked to Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacements
Several lawsuits have claimed that metal-on-metal hip implants could be linked with any of the following injuries:
- Metallosis, which is what happens when metallic debris accumulates in soft tissue surrounding the site of a surgery
- Pseudotumors
- Toxic levels of cobalt and chromium in the blood
- Allergic metal reaction including rashes that are unexplained
Liver and kidney injuries
Dislocations
Fractures of the bone and implant
Tissue and bone death
The need for revision surgery
Complications With Heavy Metal Poisoning
Metal on metal hip replacement lawsuits are alleging that such implants are associated with heavy metal poisoning. Because of the metal-on-metal friction, microscopic particles of metal debris are being released from the implant into surrounding tissue and getting into the bloodstream. Heavy metal poisoning can lead to:
- Cardiomyopathy
- Kidney failure
- Neuropathy
- Hemorrhages
- Thyroid difficulties
- Difficulties with the gastrointestinal tract
- Deafness
- Problems with vision to include optic nerve damage
If you have received an implant that has been manufactured by such companies as Zimmer, Stryker, DePuy or Wright Medical Technology, or experienced complications after receiving a metal on metal hip replacement system, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact Oklahoma Attorney Group to speak with our member Oklahoma metal on metal hip replacement attorneys about your case to know your legal options and protect your legal rights.
