Hip Implants Can Sometimes Harm, Not Help

By Jason Bottlinger on December 20, 2017

Acute hip pain can make life miserable. It makes it difficult to sleep, walk, climb stairs, sit, and go through one’s daily activities. Debilitating hip pain is why many people elect to have a hip replacement. A hip replacement is major surgery that can require four to six months for full recovery. It’s definitely the type of operation that no one wants to go through more than once. Unfortunately, defective artificial hip joints and product recalls have forced some people to undergo additional painful surgeries.

If you have had hip replacement surgery and are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may have a defective hip joint:

• Constant pain
• Limited mobility
• Hip dislocation
• Loosening of the hip
• Swelling and inflammation
• Noise in the joint (creaking, clicking, grinding, popping, etc.)

Signs of Metallosis

One serious condition often associated with defective metal hip implants is called metallosis. This occurs when fretting, grinding, or corrosion of the metal hip joint releases toxic metal ions into the body. Metallosis can result in tissue death (necrosis) and tumor-like growths (pseudo tumors). Symptoms of metallosis include:

• Rash
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Reoccurring infections
• Thyroid problems
• Problems of the nervous system (dizziness, burning and tingling sensations, numbness in extremities)
• Cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle indicated by shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in ankles, feet, legs)
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Psychological problems (feelings of malaise, emotional disturbance, confusion, etc.)
• Cobalt poisoning (symptoms include rashes, hearing problems, sight or cognition problems, tremors, cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism)

Do You Have One of These Hips?

Three hip replacement products, in particular, have been linked to serious complications:

• DePuy Pinnacle: An estimated 150,000 patients received this product before the company was forced to remove it from the market due to new FDA regulations being put in place. There are currently nearly 9,000 lawsuits against DePuy over this product.
• Stryker Rejuvenate: An estimated 3,000 patients who received this implant have had to have revision (corrective) surgery. The product has been recalled.
• Stryker ABG II: This product has also been recalled due to fretting and corrosion.

While you probably don’t know what type of hip implant was used in your surgery, you’ll know by the symptoms above whether it is defective or not. If you suspect you have a defective implant, consult an experienced orthopedic surgeon to find out what your options are. While no one wants to go through an additional hip operation, revision surgery may be the only answer.

In such a case, the implant’s designer and manufacturer may be liable for covering all your medical costs and compensating you for your pain and suffering, lost wages from missed work, and much more. After you’ve talked to your surgeon, call an experienced attorney to file a civil claim. The legal team at the Omaha offices of Bottlinger Law L.L.C., can sit down with you and discuss your options for free. Call us at (402) 505-8234.