Failed Hip Replacement Patients May Be Entitled to Compensation

More than ever, Americans are complaining about severe problems with their hip joints caused by arthritis, injury, or other medical conditions.  Typically, these individuals come to their physicians with pain, limited mobility, and difficulty in attending to their daily activities.  NBC news has reported that more than 340,000 Americans require hip replacement surgery each year, making this surgery one of the most common operations performed in the United States.

A total hip replacement involves replacing the damaged parts of the hip joint with an artificial ball (the head of the femur) and artificial socket (the cup like area within the pelvis). While this surgery can provide much needed relief to patients, serious problems and post-surgery complications have been reported in connection with defective artificial parts implanted during surgery.

Implant Defects

Artificial hip implants can be made of metal, ceramic, or plastic.  The ball and socket may be a combination of these materials.  In recent years, numerous problems have been reported with many of these devices including equipment loosening and failure, corrosion, and failure to bond.  In addition, major injuries and illnesses have been reported as the result of debris particles breaking loose in the body, which were created by normal wear and tear on these implants.

Signs and Symptoms of Complications

• Pain in hip, groin, or thigh
• Swelling
• Infection
• Fracture
• Instability of hip joint
• Limited mobility
• Lack of Flexibility
• Trouble walking

It should be noted that even if you do not have the serious signs and symptoms of a complication yet, a defective implant may still be causing serious problems which require imaging and medical follow-up.

Product Recalls or Investigations

• Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II
• Stryker V40 Cobalt Chromium Heads
• Wright Medical Conserve, Dynasty and Lineage Cups
• Wright Medical Profemur Stem
• Dupuy ASR and Pinnacle
• Zimmer M/L Taper Kinectiv Stem
• Zimmer Durom Cup
• Zimmer Versys CoCr Head
• Biomet M2A 38mm / Magnum
• DJO / Encore
• Omnilife Apex Arc
• Smith & Nephew R3
• Smith & Nephew SMF Primary Stem and Redapt Revision Stem

Hip Revision Surgery

Patients who have suffered severe injury from a defective total hip replacement may require hip revision surgery.  This requires the patient to undergo another major operation under general anesthesia.  Hip revision surgery is more complex than the original hip replacement surgery, and success rates for this surgery are lower.

Your Legal Options

If you have been implanted with a recalled hip replacement device and have suffered major complications, or have had to undergo hip revision surgery, you may be eligible for compensation.