Pennsylvania Defective Hip Replacement Lawyers

Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacements Linked to Metallosis

For many patients, having hip replacement surgery is a relief. You regain your mobility and no longer suffer from debilitating pain or stiffness. However, the use of metal-on-metal hip replacement implants can lead to complications and seriously impact a patient’s life, well-being, and future.

The Pennsylvania defective hip replacement lawyers at Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC have been helping patients who received defective metal-on-metal hip replacements seek justice and the fair recoveries they deserve since 2000. We understand the suffering you are going through and the anger you must feel. This is why we fight for the injured—to give you a voice against large corporations who placed a faulty product on the market.

If you or a loved one suffered metallosis or any other complications after receiving a defective hip implant, contact Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC for a free consultation; call (877) 989-4878 today to get started.

Complications Associated with Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Surgery

Hip replacement surgery has been steadily increasing since 2000. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 326,100 hip replacement surgeries performed in 2010, a number that has doubled since 2000. In addition to more replacements, the recovery time has decreased, allowing the patients to return to their lives much quicker.

Many of these hip replacement surgeries used metal-on-metal components, especially in the early 2000s. Many hip implant manufacturers—such DePuy, Wright Medical, and Stryker—created these devices as a long-lasting option for replacements, especially for younger and more active patients.

But as time progressed, complications begin to arise with these implants.

Many patients who received metal-on-metal hip replacement implants are now affected with various complications, including but not limited to:

• Metallosis
• Pseudotumors
• Cobalt and chromium poisoning

Although metal-on-metal hip replacements have been taken off the market, these long-lasting consequences are still affecting thousands of patients today.

What Is Metallosis?

Metallosis is a type of poisoning in which metallic debris begins to build up in the soft tissue of the body. When a metal-on-metal hip implant begins to grind against one another, debris can be released into the patient’s system. This will lead to an increase in the levels of metal in the patient’s system, causing complications, such as tissue and bone death, organ damage, and failure of the implant, leading to necessary revision surgery.

The symptoms of metallosis include:

• Extreme pain, even without movement
• Swelling and inflammation
• Dislocation
• Bone deterioration
• Loosening of the implant, leading to hip replacement failure
• Muscle and tendon breakdown
• Metal toxicity in the bloodstream, affecting the nervous system
• Heart problems

Metallosis can also lead to a pseudotumor. When your doctor takes an MRI of your hip, a pocket of fluid that looks like a tumor will show up in the images.

These symptoms take time to develop, generally between nine months and four years. When metallosis does occur, the patient will require revision surgery to remove the metal implant and replace it with a ceramic-on-metal or plastic-on-metal implant. This can be a difficult process since the patient may be experiencing weak bones and tissue damage because of metallosis. You could also develop blood clots, infection, and an adverse reaction to anesthesia.

Who Is Susceptible to Metallosis?

Some people are more likely to develop metallosis than others.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the following individuals could develop a reaction to metal-on-metal hip implants:

• Patients with bilateral implants (replaced both left and right hips)
• Female patients
• Severely overweight patients
• Very physically active patients
• Patients with suspected metal sensitivity, especially to cobalt, nickel, and chromium
• Patients with suppressed immune systems
• Patients with kidney issues
• Patients receiving high doses of corticosteroids

How Do I Know If I Have a Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant?

Usually, after a surgery, you receive documentation regarding what type of implant was used. If you did not receive information, you can always ask your surgeon to find out the manufacturer of your implant. You can also contact the manufacturer.

The manufacturers that used metal-on-metal hip replacement devices in the U.S. are as follows:

• DePuy
• Stryker Orthopaedics
• Zimmer Holdings
• Smith & Nephew
• Biomet Inc.
• Wright Medical Technology Inc.

What Legal Options Are Available?

If you were injured by a metal-on-metal hip implant or developed metallosis, pseudotumors, and/or chromium and cobalt poisoning, there are certain legal remedies available to you.

You can file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer and seek damages, which may include:

• Medical expenses
• Loss of income
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment

Our Pennsylvania Hip Replacement Lawyers Are Ready to Fight for You

If you believe that you developed metallosis from a metal-on-metal hip implant, the time in which you file your claim is crucial. The sooner you contact a personal injury lawyer, the stronger your case and the greater your chances of receiving compensation.

With a combined experience of 40+ years, the Pennsylvania defective hip implant lawyers at Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC have been helping injury victims in Philadelphia, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and the surrounding areas for more than two decades. We take the time to listen to your concerns, walk you through your options, and help you choose the best course of legal action. We will stand by your side throughout the entire legal process, including during discovery, settlement negotiations, and, if necessary, at trial.

The time to act is now. Contact Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC now at (877) 989-4878 to discuss your legal rights and options during a free, no-obligation consultation.