Metal Hip Implants: From Recommended to Vilified in Matter of Years

While all surgeries and medical devices carry risks, when metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implants first hit the market, there was little reason to think their risks were any greater than other hip implant options. As a matter of fact, they were seen as having benefits over the plastic and other implant options. So now, as countless recipients of these implants are struggling with debilitating effects, many are wondering where the process of medical device manufacturing, approval, and recommendation went wrong.

According to sources published when the MoM implants were first approved, they were designed and expected to last longer than the plastic and composite options. The ball in the device was larger and was said to make the implant more stable and less likely to dislocate.

Ironically, the implants were marketed as being less likely to result in the release of debris into the body. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from fact.

Metal implants can become corroded; they can break down within the body and send metal ions into surrounding tissues and the blood stream. This is the basis of current lawsuits pending against the implant manufacturers—that they didn’t adequately warn consumers of these serious risks. As a result, thousands elected to have the implants when they may have otherwise opted not to.

Many people with MoM hip implants have not had any ill effects. But many have. Debilitating pain is typically the first sign of a problem. Multiple surgeries may be required to correct the problems that the implant is creating.

A study in 2011 released by the FDA substantiated concerns over the dangers of the implants. In January of this year, the agency released an updated notification warning of MoM implant problems. Unfortunately, for many implant recipients, the warnings came too late.

If you were a recipient of a metal-on-metal hip implant, you could be entitled to compensation for any current or even future complications through the ongoing lawsuits against the implant manufacturers. We may be able to help.

Contact the medical device attorneys of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., today to discuss your case and the options available to you. These cases are ongoing now, and your time for justice is near. Call 1-800-LAW-2000 today.