In the early 2000s, a number of companies released metal-on-metal hip joints. Older generations of artificial hip joints used either plastic, ceramic, or metal-on-plastic combinations.

Despite this, medical supply companies were able to bypass several steps of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval on the grounds that the new joints were still similar enough to older hip joints to avoid extensive testing. However, a series of recalls across different makes and models of metal-on-metal hip joints due to hip replacement complications, as well as lawsuits over hip replacement problems, has indicated that there were some important differences, too.

Artificial hip joints are used to replace the surfaces of the hip joint. Several different hip problems can require replacement. A fall can damage the bones of the hip joint, particularly the neck of the femur (upper leg bone), a point of weakness in the human skeleton. Another common hip problem, osteoarthritis, happens when wear and tear on the joint wear off the cartilage that cushions a healthy hip joint, causing serious pain. Artificial hip joints are designed to replace the worn-out or damaged joint with man-made materials to compensate for the damage. However, if an artificial hip joint fails, a person can be left with a new set of hip problems.

It is alleged in thousands of hip implant lawsuits that metal-on-metal hip joints fail more often than other types of hip joints. Often, the first sign of problems is hip replacement pain. In this situation, swelling and inflammation around the joint can be as debilitating as the original hip problems. When a hip joint fails, the patient has to undergo revision surgery, a second procedure to replace the failed joint. This carries the same risks as the original surgery including hip replacement infection (a common post-surgical risk). Additionally, surgeons have less of the original hip joint to work with, making the surgery more complicated. Sometimes, hip replacement pain can cause a person to limp to compensate, putting enough strain on their other hip that it requires replacement, increasing the risk of hip replacement problems.

In addition to surgical risks like joint failure and hip replacement infection, many lawsuits have alleged that patients have suffered from metal poisoning from hip replacements. These hip replacement lawsuits argue that while the metal alloys of the joint are not dangerous when intact, the grinding of the joint’s metal interfacing surfaces can shave off microscopic bits of metal that dissolve more easily and form toxic metal ions. Allegedly, these metallic ions can cause a variety of symptoms. Neurological issues, heart problems, and the growth of pseudotumors around the joint have all allegedly been caused by metal poisoning from hip replacements.

Group lawsuits have been launched against several companies that made metal-on-metal hip implants, including Stryker, Biomet, DePuy, and Johnson & Johnson. The hip lawsuits allege hip replacement complications including joint failure and metal poisoning. These hip replacement lawsuits allege that the devices are inherently defective and medical supply companies failed in their duty to thoroughly test these products before releasing them to the public.