The New York Times recently published an extraordinary, in-depth article entitled, “Can Your Hip Replacement Kill You? The title would be purely provocative if it weren’t so true. Sadly, in extreme cases, hip replacements can kill you. A defective hip implant system that causes metallosis, a condition destroys ligaments, muscle, tendons - and can affect the heart and brain.
Implant Technology Often Is Not Clinically Tested
While obviously a hip replacement can’t “kill” the way a heart-attack can, a defective device an set off a sequence of events and conditions that can lead to serious harm or even death. And it happens far more often than we think, particularly because the manufacturers of these devices do not want anyone to know how often it happens.
Hundreds of thousands of Americans now have technology implanted in their bodies. This includes everything from hip replacement systems to birth control devices. The problem is that these American also believe that the manufacturers of these devices - which literally become a part of them - have been subjected to the same regulatory scrutiny and rigorous clinical testing as pharmaceutical drugs. Not the case.
Hip Implant Recalls & Lawsuits
In fact, most implants have not undergone any clinical testing at all. Is it any surprise then, that these devices have harmed numerous individuals? Or that the companies that manufacture them, like Johnson & Johnson and Pinnacle, which makes millions of dollars selling the devices, have been forced to issue multiple recalls.
The obvious solution is more rigorous testing and oversight of implants and their manufacturers. But for those who have already been injured by an hip implant system, the only solution is to seek compensation for your injuries.
Common Symptoms of a Faulty Hip Implant
Below are some of the most common symptoms of a faulty implant device:
- Difficulty or pain when walking, standing, or sitting
- Pain around the surgery area
- Loose device
- Elevated levels of certain metals in your blood
- Visible inflammation and swelling in the surgical area
- Frequent nausea
- Infection
- Bone Loss
- Grinding, clicking, or other noises in the surgical area
