JUDICIAL BENCH AFFIRMS $2.1 MILLION JURY VERDICT IN BELLWETHER CASE INVOLVING METAL ON METAL HIP IMPLANTS

As the population ages, increasing numbers of people are getting hip implants, which can cause some complications — especially with metal-on-metal devices in which the ball and socket components are both made of metal.

The devices are under increasing scrutiny, and may not last as long as ceramic or plastic counterparts, requiring repeat surgery. https://www.caseygerry.com/areas-of-practice/pharmaceutical-and-medical-device/#tab-1-4-current-litigation

In fact, thousands of lawsuits against implant manufacturers allege the metal on metal implants cause a variety of complications leading to painful replacement surgeries.

In a recent ruling, the 11th Circuit judicial bench affirmed the $2.1 million jury verdict in the first Wright Hip Implant bellwether trial. Plaintiff Robyn Christiansen maintained that her Wright hip replacement implant was defectively designed and that the company failed to adequately test the device before introducing it to market. Christiansen underwent revision surgery where it was discovered that metal debris from the implant had spread to the surrounding soft tissue.

Other manufacturers of metal on metal hip implants have faced similar lawsuits, including Johnson & Johnson which faces over 9,000 lawsuits due to faulty hip implants. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-01/j-j-ordered-to-pay-more-than-1-billion-for-pinnacle-hip-device

Problems occur when the metal ball and metal cup slide against each other during walking or running. Metal can also be released from other parts of the implant where two implant components connect – the metal release can cause some tiny metal particles to wear off of the device into the space around the implant. Wear and corrosion at the connection between the metal ball and taper of the stem may also occur and some of the metal ions (e.g. cobalt and chromium) from the metal implant or from the metal particles will enter the bloodstream. https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/MetalonMetalHipImplants/ucm241604.htm

According to the FDA, symptoms of this may include hip/groin pain, local swelling, numbness, or changes in your ability to walk. There are many reasons a patient with a metal-on-metal hip implant may experience such symptoms and it is important to contact a physician to help determine why you are having them.

CaseyGerry is currently accepting hip implant cases for Stryker Rejuvenate and AGB II and DePuy Pinnacle. https://www.caseygerry.com/areas-of-practice/pharmaceutical-and-medical-device/#tab-1-4-current-litigation

For more information on the dangers of metal on metal implants, visit https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/MetalonMetalHipImplants/ucm241766.htm