Drug Injury Lawyers Blog
Every year in the United States, thousands of patients undergo hip replacement surgery to treat severe hip arthritis and other degenerative conditions affecting the hip joint. Hip replacement surgeries are generally a last resort option, after non-surgical treatments have failed to help. These patients are typically in serious pain, and unable to perform basic daily activities. The hip replacement is supposed to help them get their lives back. Unfortunately, that’s not always the outcome.
In addition to relieving pain and improving mobility, hip implants are supposed to last the rest of the patient’s life. Hip replacement surgery is complicated and painful; nobody wants to go through it multiple times. Although hip replacement surgeries have been performed for decades, the hip implants themselves have gone through quite an evolution. In recent years, ceramic and plastic models have been “upgraded” to all-metal devices that were originally hailed for being more durable and providing greater range of motion.
It is common for patients to want the newest model when it comes to surgical implants, and hip implants are no exception. As such, tens of thousands of patients have been implanted with all-metal hip implants in the last decade. But shortly after all-metal hip replacement surgeries skyrocketed, claims of serious complications began flooding in. A MA defective medical products attorney can help you determine how to move forward if you’ve been injured by an all-metal hip implant, or any other medical device.
Complications Linked to All-Metal Hip Implants
All-metal hip implants are designed with a ball and socket, both of which are made of metal. Unfortunately, when the ball and socket rub together, the metal-on-metal contact results in friction that can release metal debris into the patient’s blood stream and surrounding tissue. This metal debris can become toxic in the bloodstream and cause the surrounding tissues to become irritated and inflamed, a condition called Metallosis. If left untreated, Metallosis can be fatal. In addition, these metal particles can cause an immune reaction in the body, leading to soft-tissue damage and bone deterioration around the joint.
If you have an all-metal hip implant, it is in your best interest to visit your doctor regularly for routine evaluations of the implant and your hip joint. If it is determined that your hip implant is causing problems or has failed, you may require a revision surgery to remove and replace the implant. A Boston defective medical products attorney can help you recover damages if you’ve been harmed by any type of medical device.
Symptoms of All-Metal Hip Implant Complications
If you have an all-metal hip implant, seek medical attention if you develop any of the following symptoms:
- Severe pain in the hip, groin, or leg
- Difficulty walking
- Swelling or inflammation around the hip joint
- Infection
- Feelings of malaise
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Skin rash
The above symptoms may signal a problem with your implant, including loosening of the implant, fracture or deterioration of the surrounding bone, misalignment of the ball and socket, or blood poisoning / tissue inflammation from metal debris.
Altman & Altman, LLP – Defective Medical Products Attorneys Serving All of MA
If you have been injured by an all-metal hip implant, the skilled legal team at Altman & Altman, LLP can help. We have been protecting the rights of accident and injury victims for more than 50 years. With certain models of all-metal hip implants having a 50 percent failure rate within the first six years, the extent of pain and suffering among hip replacement patients is almost incalculable. These hip implants were brought to market too soon – before adequate safety testing had been performed – for the sole purpose of putting money in the pockets of the corporate health care giants that manufacture them. If you have been harmed, we can help. Contact Altman & Altman, LLP today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.
