All-metal hip implants have been under fire in recent years for their dangerous and defective designs. In particular, all-metal hip implants have been thought to release dangerously high levels of toxic metals into the bloodstream and surrounding tissue. These metals can permanently damage the hip joint, bone, tissue, and surrounding ligaments. In addition, all-metal hip implants have a significantly higher premature failure rate, forcing patients to undergo costly, and painful revision surgeries.
A new study released in the Journal of Bone and Joint has shed additional light on the dangers of metallosis and all-metal hip implants, particularly the DePuy Pinnacle model. The study compared metal ion levels in patients who received all-metal hip implants over a 5-year period. Their results showed that the all-metal hip implant recipients had significantly higher levels of chromium and cobalt in their blood compared to those patients who received the metal-on-polyethylene hip implant.
Even with this new research and the FDA warnings regarding all metal or metal-on-metal hip implants, DePuy still has not recalled their popular Pinnacle model. They did, however, suspend sales of the device in 2013 amidst growing concerns.
While DePuy faces thousands of individual lawsuits citing pain, implant failure, joint instability, pseudotumors, and metallosis, other hip implant manufacturers are facing their own legal troubles. These manufacturers include Biomet, Smith & Nephew, Wright Medical, Zimmer Holdings, and Stryker.
If you or someone you love has experienced hip pain, joint instability, bone loss, revision surgery, decreased mobility, tissue death, metallosis, or other medical complications after receiving an all-metal hip implant, it is important to have your case reviewed by a Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney. You may be able to take part in the multi-district litigation that is currently pending across the country.
