How Can a Person Be Injured by a Defective Hip Replacement?

 Posted on August 20, 2021 in Defective Medical Devices

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.

Particles or metal filings can damage the bones and other tissues surrounding a hip implant, leading to an adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR) or an adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD) in other organs or bodily systems. Damage to the soft tissues in and around the hip joint can cause pain and inflammation. A person may also experience infections, a loosening of the hip joint that affects their ability to move their leg and walk properly, or metallosis due to metal in the bloodstream. If a degraded hip implant is not addressed, it may eventually lead to bone fractures, nerve damage, or a complete failure of the implant, and additional surgeries may be needed to repair or replace a damaged implant. 

Contact Our Arlington Heights Defective Medical Device Attorneys

Several different types of hip implants from multiple manufacturers have been recalled over the past decade, and thousands of patients have suffered injuries because of these devices. If you have experienced medical issues related to a hip replacement, Newland & Newland, LLP can help you understand your legal options. We will determine whether your hip implant has been subject to a recall, and we will work to ensure that you will be fully compensated for your injuries. We will help you receive compensation that addresses the costs of medical treatments such as surgery or physical therapy, the income you have lost if a defective implant has affected your ability to work, and the physical pain and suffering you have experienced. Contact our Palatine defective hip implant lawyers at 847-797-8000 to arrange a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/metal-metal-hip-implants/concerns-about-metal-metal-hip-implants