HOME ABOUT MEET OUR TEAM PRACTICE AREAS LOCATIONS OUR RESULTS BLOG CONTACT 855-551-1019 Hip Revision Surgery Lawsuit FREE CASE EVALUATION Hip Revision Surgery Lawsuit The number of hip replacements has skyrocketed over the last 10 years. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, more than 300,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed each year in the United States alone. Hip replacement surgery can mean the difference between a person who spends the rest of their life immobile and a person who gets a second chance at living a normal life. While the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) calls hip replacements one of the most successful procedures in all of medicine, a growing number of people need revision surgery. What is Hip Replacement Surgery? Hip replacement is a surgical procedure in which a surgeon removes damaged portions of the patient’s hip joint and puts in a hip replacement prosthesis made of ceramics, metal, or plastic. During a total hip replacement surgery, medically referred to as a hip arthroplasty, bone and cartilage that may have been damaged are also removed and replaced. Hip replacement surgery is very invasive and not necessarily for everyone. Some people find that prescribed medication helps manage their daily hip pain. However, the pain begins to limit activity and persists for the majority of the day, a doctor may then, recommend a hip replacement procedure. According to Dr. Jared Foran from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, some of the most common causes of pain that may require hip replacement surgery include: Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid arthritis Post-traumatic arthritis Avascular necrosis Childhood hip disease When is Hip Revision Surgery Necessary? While the majority of people have positive experiences after hip replacement, a growing number of people are starting to need revision surgery. Hip revision surgery is needed when the current hip implant in your body begins to fail and the patient is starting to experience pain and will need additional surgeries to fix any problems. These are the most common reasons for hip replacement surgeries, according to the Hospital for Special Surgery: Implant wear Dislocation of implant Infection Implant loosening Mechanical failure Metal poisoning Implant Breakage Risks Associated with Hip Revision Surgery Hip revision surgery is a much more difficult and time-consuming surgery than the original hip replacement surgery. This procedure often takes several hours. Once the hip revision surgery has begun, the surgeon must carefully examine the tissue surrounding the original implant and determine if any tissue has been damaged. In some cases, cement is used in order to secure the implant. If this is the case, the surgeon may require additional time in order to remove the cement from the patient’s bone. After these steps are done, the surgeon will remove the original implant and replace it with a new one. Revision Surgery Presents A Greater Risk Of Complications. The AAOS says the most common risks include: Dislocation Infection Blood clots Pulmonary embolism Leg-length inequality Heterotopic ossification Fracture Damage to nerves or blood vessels Failure of the bone to attach to the metal implant Implant loosening Recovery from hip revision surgery can tend to be a lot slower. While many people see positive changes after their revision surgery, some patients will still experience pain and implant problems afterward. Smith & Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Recall Many medical device companies advertise their implant devices as being more durable when compared to older types of implants. The companies that tend to do this are Biomet, DePuy, Stryker, Zimmer, Wright, and Smith & Nephew. Because more people are receiving hip replacements, the number of complications associated with the implants made by these companies are rising. In many cases, hip replacement manufacturers distributed hip implants that failed earlier than patients expected. Because of this, patients are experiencing pain and are in need of complicated revision surgery. In many cases, the cause of failure has been metal-on-metal implants. Smith & Nephew was the maker of the first metal-on-metal implant to hit the market in the United States. These implants use metal components instead of those made of plastic or other materials. They were created and perceived to be more durable and last longer. However, research has shown that metal-on-metal implants fail at a higher rate than other hip replacement alternatives. This is because debris from the implants has been found in the surrounding tissue, and metal ions from the metal-on-metal implants can poison the bloodstream in a process called metallosis. In June 2015, Smith & Nephew issued an “Urgent Field Safety Notice” of its Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implant after post-market surveillance revealed some patients had a greater risk of revision surgery when implanted with the device. Due to all of the uncertainty around these implants, doctors have been warned to keep an eye on patients with the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implant. Consumers File Hip Revision Surgery Lawsuits Unfortunately, the recall on Smith & Nephew metal-on-metal implants came far too late for many patients. Countless patients had already been implanted with the metal-on-metal implants and had to undergo revision surgery to stop the metal components from releasing debris and poisoning their blood. Several types of hip implants have been recalled or pulled from the market over the past few years for similar safety issues. For example, Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary DePuy issued a Class 2 Recall in 2010 for its Acetabular Cup System. This is significant because a Class 2 Recall states that the product may cause temporary or permanent medical issues either in the present or down the road. In one case, Cheryl Elmore underwent hip resurfacing in 2008 with the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implant. Two weeks after her surgery, her hip implant began to loosen, requiring her to undergo revision surgery. A year later, she experienced more loosening of the hip joint. By 2010, she had to undergo another revision surgery after tests showed higher levels of metal ions in her blood. Because of all the complications associated with her hip implants, she filed a lawsuit against Smith & Nephew in 2012. Currently, Smith & Nephew has recalled over 4,000 of their metal-on-metal implants. Additionally, in July of 2019, nearly 600 lawsuits were pending in Maryland’s federal court in response to Smith & Nephew’s faulty implants. Why Should I File a Hip Revision Surgery Lawsuit? Cheryl Elmore’s case is just one example of thousands who experienced similar failures from devices that were marketed as safe and effective. Companies like Smith & Nephew and Biomet have settled thousands of metal-on-metal implant claims against them but continue to deny any liability. A company like DePuy has yet to issue a recall of its Pinnacle hip implants despite reports of high failure rates. Because these companies refuse to recall their products and admit liability, countless people are still out there who have suffered severely after being implanted with one of their defective devices and have yet to receive any compensation or apology. Filing a hip revision surgery lawsuit not only gets you compensation for your complications but also holds companies accountable for their actions. Contact The Eichholz Law Firm for more information about our services and see if you may qualify for compensation. Please seek the advice of a medical professional before making health care decisions. Practice Areas Personal Injury Workers Compensation Product Liability Class Action Catastrophic Accidents Negligence Testimonials Nice, Professional Staff from the beginning to the end. Alicia Proctor was a pleasure to work with. She made sure she followed through every step as she promised. Answering every question and concern I had throughout. Eichholz form work thoroughly to get their clients what they need and keep you in the loop. I can’t thank them enough. I would recommend this firm and I will certainly use them again in the future if need be. Michele from G. Testimonials Nice, Professional Staff from the beginning to the end. Alicia Proctor was a pleasure to work with. She made sure she followed through every step as she promised. Answering every question and concern I had throughout. Eichholz form work thoroughly to get their clients what they need and keep you in the loop. I can’t thank them enough. I would recommend this firm and I will certainly use them again in the future if need be. Rita Thomas VIEW ALL TESTIMONIALS CONTACT US Fill out this form for a free, immediate, case evaluation. SUBMIT Terms of Use" class="validation-lenient">By submitting this form I agree to the Terms of Use Passionate Professionals. Committed Attorneys. 319 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah, GA 31406 3200 Riverside Drive, Suite B265, Macon, GA 31210 Hurt Bldg, Hurt Plaza SE #1515 Atlanta, GA 30303 Augusta Office Coming Soon! Call Us Now! 855-551-1019 or Click for a Free Case Evaluation Legal Disclaimer: This site may contain attorney advertising for David S. Eichholz. © 2011-2021. The Eichholz Law Firm, P.C. | Privacy Policy