Defective Hip Replacement Lawsuits
Since hip replacement devices have been approved for medical use, they have helped many people eliminate pain and restore fluid motility. Unfortunately, as successful as hip replacement surgery is for many people, there are also those who experience complications.
Hip replacement complications are often the result of defective devices. Defective medical devices can result in serious issues, including pain, infection, and illness.
At Reed & Terry, L.L.P., our attorneys can assist clients in Sugar Land, TX, Katy, TX, and Richmond, TX, in filing a defective hip replacement lawsuit to seek financial compensation for any damages caused by their defective medical device.
Are Defective Hip Replacements Common?
Many people talk about how beneficial and transformative hip replacement surgery has been for them. However, if you or a loved one developed complications after hip replacement surgery, you are not alone. Defective hip replacements are much more common than most people realize.
According to Drugwatch, more than 29,000 lawsuits have been filed against hip replacement manufacturers. The consumer watch group further reports that, since 2002, hip replacement manufacturers have spent more than $7.5 billion to settle defective hip replacement lawsuits. Some of the manufacturers that have been involved in defective hip replacement lawsuits include Stryker, Smith & Nephew, DePuy, and Zimmer.
Based on these lawsuits, it appears as though metal-on-metal hip replacements are the most likely to cause complications. Because of the high number of hip replacement recalls, the FDA strengthened testing for metal-on-metal hip replacements in 2016, making it more difficult for these devices to be approved.
Defective Hip Replacement Complications
Metal-on-metal hip replacements were intended to be stronger and more durable than other artificial hips. Unfortunately, the main complaint regarding metal-on-metal hip replacements is that the pieces of the artificial joint rub against one another, causing small amounts of metal to flake off and enter the body, which is highly dangerous.
Metal-on-metal hip replacements, and other types of artificial hips, can lead to a number of complications when defects are present. Defective hip replacements may cause various issues for our clients, including:
- Increased pain
- Infection
- Metallosis (a condition that destroys bone, muscles, and tissues)
- Hip dislocation
- Loosening of the artificial hip
- Need for revision surgery
Seeking Compensation for Damages
When defective hip replacements lead to complications, it is important to hold manufacturers responsible. Individuals who have suffered due to defective hip replacements have the right to seek financial compensation for all damages stemming from the device, including pain and suffering, the cost of medical treatment (including the cost of any necessary revision surgery), and lost income.
The attorneys at Reed & Terry, L.L.P. can help individuals in getting maximum compensation for their losses. Medical device manufacturers often have legal teams who are ready to defend their clients, but our attorneys have a thorough understanding of product liability laws and how they pertain to defective medical devices.
Contact Us
If you suspect that you have been given a defective hip replacement, it is important that you seek the assistance of a personal injury attorney. To discuss the details of your case with the legal team at Reed & Terry, L.L.P., send us a message at your earliest convenience or call (281) 201-0988. We serve clients in Sugar Land, Katy, Richmond, and surrounding areas.