Metal on Metal Hip Replacement Lawsuits
The Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. is now investigating and evaluating defective product cases on behalf of individuals who received a metal on metal hip replacement and suffered problems. Hip replacement surgery is conducted to alleviate issues with pain and a failing hip.
Instead of finding improvement after a hip implant surgery, many hip implant patients suffer hip implant failure, leaving them with pain, swelling, difficulty walking, and many times facing a hip replacement revision surgery. These problems have led many manufacturers to issue a metal on metal hip replacement recall.
Metal on metal hip implants believed to cause problems include:
- Johnson and Johnson/DePuy: ASR Total Hip Replacement and ASR Resurfacing System hip;
- Johnson & Johnson/DePuy: Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip;
- Zimmer: Durom Cup hip;
- Stryker: Rejuvenate and ABG II Stems;
- Biomet: M2a and 38 Diameter hips;
- Wright Conserve;
- Wright Dynasty;
- Wright Lineage;
- and Wright Profemur (femur fracture) hips; and
- Smith and Nephew: R3 Liner hips.
Common problems with metal on metal hip implants include pain, swelling, and problems walking. These reported problems, combined with several metal on metal hip implant recalls, have led to numerous metal on metal hip implant lawsuits seeking compensation for damages including the cost of a revision surgery as well as pain and suffering.
Metal on Metal Hip Implant Design Problems
Metal on metal hip implants were designed with two purposes in mind:
- To allow the size of the ball and socket to be larger than the socket designed for a traditional plastic implant, and decrease the likelihood of a hip dislocation;
- To reduce the likelihood that the device will wear out as compared to a traditional hip implant.
Despite the intended benefit, metal on metal hip replacement devices have a much higher failure rate than traditional hip replacement implants. Given the metallic design, metal on metal implants can create tiny microscopic particles of metallic debris. The metallic debris occurs due to the metal friction involved from the metal components within the hip implant moving together. This debris can lead to soft-tissue and bone damage around the hip joint. In many cases, the metal on metal him implant can cause severe permanent injury and require a revision surgery.
Smith & Nephew R3 Acetabular System Recall
Smith & Nephew issued a worldwide recall of the metal cup component of its R3 Acetabular System hip replacements in June 2012. Several studies showed statistics where 6% of the implants fail within the first four years. The studies revealed another issue with the design which pushes toxic metal particles into patient’s body, which can cause extreme pain, inflammation, metal poisoning, and other complications.
Smith & Nephew announced the recall by press release stating patients who received an R3 hip implant reported a higher rate of problems with the device than with other hip replacements.
The list of complications reported by patients with a recalled Smith & Nephew hip replacements includes:
- infection,
- bone fractures as well as
- dislocation of the implant.
A study analyzing clinical trials of the R3 Acetabular System found that patients with the device were 60% more likely to require revision surgery to repair the device than guidelines set by British health regulators.
The Smith & Nephew R3 Acetabular System is a metal-on-metal hip replacement system, containing both metal cup and head components designed to last longer than ceramic or plastic hip replacement devices. Many health experts believe that metal-on-metal hip replacements may pose additional risks to patients like chromium and cobalt poisoning caused by loose metal fragments shed by the device.
Patients who experience problems with a recalled Smith & Nephew hip replacement system have been advised to speak with their doctors to determine whether there are any problems with the device. Not all patients with an R3 Acetabular System will require replacement of the device, working with a doctor can help patients to figure out the best course of treatment to correct problems with their implant.
Additional Metal on Metal Side Effects
Metal on metal hip implants can also increase the level of metal ions found the bloodstream. Metal on metal hip implants fail at a much higher rate than traditional implants. If you received a metal on metal hip implant and you were forced to have a revision surgery, or have been experiencing hip pain, hip swelling, or difficulty walking after receiving a metal on metal hip implant, we may be able to help.
If you or a loved one received a recalled Smith & Nephew hip replacement or suffered serious personal injuries after a metal-on-metal hip implant, you could be entitled to compensation. Don’t continue to suffer in silence from hip pain. Contact the lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. to receive a free legal consultation. You can reach us at 803.252.4800, or by filling out the free case evaluation form located on this page.
