Modern medical technology has accomplished some amazing things, and it has helped patients address many serious diseases and health conditions while improving people’s quality of life. Unfortunately, not every advancement has been beneficial, and there are some cases where treatments or devices used by medical professionals have caused harm to patients without adequately addressing their medical conditions. Defective hip replacements are one type of device that has resulted in injuries for a large number of patients. Those who have had hip replacement surgery should be sure to understand the potential risks they may face, and know that an attorney can help these patients determine their legal options.
Problems With Degrading Hip Implants
Hip replacements may be beneficial for patients who have experienced deterioration of bones or cartilage in the hip joints, injuries such as broken bones, or inflammation of tissue. Ideally, a hip replacement will provide a patient with increased mobility while reducing the pain and stiffness they experience.
As with any foreign objects that are implanted into the body, hip implants can degrade over time. The friction between the ball and socket of an artificial hip joint may cause particles to break off and affect the tissues surrounding the joint. This is a major concern for implants that use metal on metal components. When these components rub together, filings or small pieces of metal can be released, and they may enter the bloodstream and affect other parts of the body.
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