Hip Recall Lawsuits
Hip Recall and Lawsuit FAQs
What you should know if you’ve had a hip replacement and the manufacturer issues a recall.
A hip replacement can bring great relief and improvement to a patient’s quality of life. The human hip is basically a ball and a cup. The top of the leg bone has a round knob that fits into a round space in the hip bone. Age, disease, injury, or other conditions can cause natural hip joints to lose strength. When doctors cannot repair the natural joint, they sometimes recommend a total hip replacement.
An artificial hip implant can function like the natural joint. A typical hip implant should last for decades of normal usage. When they fail prematurely or have high rates of fracture, then the implants may be defective.
Replacing a hip implant is called “revision surgery,” and it has its own set of risk factors. The revision must address the damage done by the prior defective implant.
What are metal-on-metal hip replacements?
Most hip replacement devices have two basic parts: the round cup for the hip bone – the acetabular cup — and the new ball of the leg bone called the femoral head. Manufacturers use many different materials to resurface the cup and the ball of the leg bone that fits into the cup. Popular models include ceramic-on-ceramic, metal on polyethylene plastic, ceramic-on-metal, and metal-on-metal. The metal-on-metal uses chromium and cobalt.
Are defective metal-on-metal replacements dangerous?
The artificial bone head must fit into the artificial socket to provide secure support and smooth joint rotation. Defective metal-on-metal replacements show early signs of corrosion, instability, poor positioning, and fractures. The grinding motion leaves metal shards that can cause blood poisoning, irritations, swelling, and severe pain. The defect can cause permanent injury and long-term disability.
I have metal-on-metal implants, should I see a doctor?
The FDA recommends that any persons with metal-on-metal devices should report symptoms immediately. You should also consult your doctor for an assessment. Signs of potential problems due to defects or other issues include the following symptoms:
- Aches or pains in hip, leg, or groin areas
- Puffiness, tenderness, or swelling in the joint of one or both hips
- A limp, shortened, or changed stride or limited ability to walk
- Joint sounds when moving the hips such as clicks, grinding noises, pops, and squeaks
Which Wright implants were recalled?
The FDA has not recalled any Wright replacements or parts yet, but the manufacturer issued a voluntary recall for the ProFemur Z. The FDA issued advice for consumers with metal-on-metal versions of the Wright Conserve, Lineage replacement liner, and Heritage replacement liner.
Am I eligible for compensation?
If you have a hip implant and have experienced pain and any significant complications, then you should consult with a legal expert specializing in hip implant litigation. The Wright lawsuit settlements cover patients that experienced a substantial defect between 150 days and eight years after their surgery.
The Wright implant devices listed below may be eligible:
- Monoblock Conserve Cup
- Dynasty replacement hip Liner
- Lineage replacement hip liner
What damages can I sue for?
In a lawsuit, patients can sue the the hip replacement manufacturers for many types of harm, suffering, and injuries. Injured persons can sue for their injuries, money losses from work or business, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. If you have sustained a higher level of damage than usual, then you may be able to sue for these from a special fund.
How much can I collect?
Past settlements have provided an average compensation for plaintiffs at $170,000 for defective Conserve Cup victims and $120,000 per plaintiff for the Dynasty and Lineage models. The manufacturer agreed to further amounts for plaintiffs that can show a severe level of injury. These extraordinary injuries can support additional compensation.
Who is eligible?
You may be eligible for compensation if the items listed below apply:
- You had the metal-on-metal, or metal on another material replacement implant.
- You received Wright Conserve, Dynasty, or Lineage replacements.
- You required revision surgery to replace the metal-on-metal components.
What should my next step be?
Hip replacement defects involve complex litigation with manufacturers, insurers, and other parties. At Gilreath & Associates, we are experienced litigators who specialize in medical defects resulting in severe injury to patients. We can help you get the full, fair, and just compensation that your case deserves.
If you or someone close to you has a hip replacement which causes discomfort and medical complications, then call or contact us online today. We can help.