Hip & Knee Implant Lawsuit

Hip or knee replacement is done to replace an injured or malfunctioning hip or knee joint that is causing pain, inflammation, and immobility to the patient. Artificial implants then replace the damaged areas to mimic normal motion.

Hip replacement surgery is usually done for patients with hip joint arthritis. The surgeon first removes the ball portion of the thigh bone and damaged cartilage from the surface of the hip bone. A ball -and-joint implant is then inserted and kept in place using medical glue or cement to replace the damaged portions.

Knee replacement surgery follows the same approach, with damaged bone and cartilage removed. In this case, the lower end of the thigh bone, the top surface of the leg bone, and the back surface of the kneecap are involved in the procedure.

Other risks and complications of metal on metal implants include: 

• Premature failure of the implant
• Additional surgeries
• Pain and inflammation
• Instability and dislocation
• Nerve Injury
• Infection

Between 2002 and 2013, Consumers Union identified six manufacturers that recalled metal on metal hip implants:

FDA classified more than 10% of these recalls under Class 1, meaning there is reasonable probability that using these devices will cause serious adverse health events including death.

Hundreds of knee implants from some of these manufacturers were also recalled over the years due to associated complications. Zimmer’s NexGen Knee Replacement Systems faced a Class 2 recall from FDA in 2010 due to potential fracturing of the device’s components, affecting over 68,000 devices already implanted.

In 2015, the company then voluntarily recalled a component of its knee replacement system, Persona Trabecular Metal Tibial Plate, due to complaints of loose plate fit.

Collectively, manufacturers Zimmer, Depuy, Stryker, Smith & Nephew, and Wright Medical recalled over a thousand knee implant system and component units from 2003 to 2018.

A study published in 2017 by the BMC Psychiatry found out that neurocognitive and depressive deficits were present after metal on metal implant failure. It followed 10 patients who received hip implants from 2005 to 2009, and underwent revision surgery from 2008 to 2012. Prior to revision surgery, 9 patients had toxic blood levels of chromium and cobalt, with significantly depressed moods comparable with moderately severe depression. Meanwhile, 7 patients exhibited neurocognitive deficits, and experienced short-term memory deficit, disorientation, and concentration issues.

A 2012 study published in The Lancet showed that failure rates in metal on metal total hip replacements are high compared to ceramic implants. The study included 31,171 patients fitted with stemmed metal on metal hip implants between 2003 and 2011. Five-year revision rates for older men ranged from 3.2% to 5.1%, and 6.1% for younger women. In contrast, ceramic on ceramic implants only had 2% to 3.3% revision rates for older men, and 1.6% for metal on ceramic implants in younger women.

Moreover, another study in 2012 identified the reason for early failures of metal on metal hip replacement. The study established that 78% of revisions for the 80 patients involved occurred within 2 years of operation, which went up to 92.5% in just 3 years. Metal on metal implants were primarily marketed for their durability, but this study shows that the supposed benefits of durability may not be realistic.

If you or your loved one suffered from metal poisoning or underwent revision surgery due to premature failure of a hip or knee implant, Maxwell Law Group can help get you the compensation you deserve. Call (844) 525-7155 or fill out the form below and we’ll investigate your case at no charge to you.