Boston Injury Lawyer Blog
A hip replacement surgery is no simple task, but it is a necessity for thousands of Americans every year. Hip replacements can improve quality of life, but they can also cause further medical issues, especially if the hip replacement was an improperly designed product that led to a recall. If you or a loved one has suffered as the result of a metal hip replacement which was later recalled, contact the Cambridge personal injury firm of Altman & Altman LLP today, as you may be eligible for financial compensation.
If a product has been recalled, this indicates that the federal government has ruled a product to be unsafe and that its use could potentially cause harm or even death to those who may use it. Unfortunately, hip replacement recalls often come far too late before thousands of people have already been fitted with these faulty devices.
Hip replacement products that have been recalled due to them being deemed unsafe include:
- DePuy ASR Acetabular & Resurfacing System
- Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Hip Recall
- Smith & Nephew R3 Acetabular, Modular SMF, Modular Redapt Femoral Hip Systems
- Wright Conserve Plus and Profemur Z Hip Stem
- Zimmer Durom Acetabular Component
Stryker and DePuy accounted for over 380 recalls between 2002 and 2013 alone, and products have been recalled for a variety of reasons, such as improperly labeling them, manufacturing issues resulting in design flaws and some were improperly packaged.
What are the dangers of metal hip replacements?
Hip replacements are meant to be long-term solutions to major medical issues, often times offered to individuals who have suffered an injury that weakened their original hip or the elderly, who may suffer from decreased mobility or consistent pain as the cartilage in their original hip socket deteriorates and causes uncomfortable friction to occur from basic movement.
Metal hip replacements are supposed to be more durable than other hip replacement products, such as plastic or ceramic models. In these types of hip replacements, both parts of the hip replacement – the ball end that attaches to the femur, and the socket that attaches to the hip – are made of metal. However, despite them supposedly being more durable than other types of hip replacements, metal hip replacements can degrade and cause serious issues, such as:
- Requirement of another replacement or an additional surgery sooner than advertised, as the metal pieces grind against one another and degrade through friction
- Blood poisoning, known as metallosis, which can occur through tiny particles of metal shearing off the hip replacement and getting into the bloodstream over time
- Constant, debilitating hip and leg pain
- Reduced mobility
- Development of tumor-like growths in the area of hip replacement
If you suffer from a faulty hip replacement, it can not only result in seriously debilitating issues, it can require additional surgery or medical intervention to correct. This can mean more even more medical expenses and time spent recovering in a hospital, which you may not be able to afford financially or in time missed from work.
Let Altman & Altman LLP advocate for you
Hip replacement surgery is a miracle of modern medicine, but it is important for companies that produce hip replacement products to ensure they are doing right by the patients who will rely on them to regain mobility and enjoy a high quality of life. Too many defective products have been released to the public, and we will hold negligent companies accountable for either not doing their due diligence or knowingly ignoring public health risks associated with their products.
The personal injury attorneys at Altman & Altman LLP have over 50 years of experience advocating for clients like you, whether in Cambridge, the Greater Boston Area or anywhere else in Massachusetts. We can provide legal representation unmatched anywhere else in the state and provide the kind of personalized attention that sets us apart from any other firm.
If you have been harmed due to a botched hip replacement surgery, contact us online or call for a free consultation to go over the details of your case today at 617-492-3000 or toll-free at 800-481-6199. We are available 24/7.
