A metal hip implant lawsuit has been filed against orthopedic company Biomet LLC by a Virginia woman who allegedly experienced severe and painful side effects after a failed Magnum hip implant.

Plaintiff Mary Ann Crampton-Humphreys was implanted with the Biomet metal hip implant product the Biomet M2A Magnum Metal on Metal Hip System in 2004 in her right hip. Last year, about nine years after Crampton-Humphreys’ total hip replacement surgery, she claimed that she was experiencing squeaking and pain in the surgical area. Over the next four months, Crampton-Humphrey underwent several medical treatments for the alleged metal hip implant complications, the lawsuit said, noting the pain continued to worsen.

According to the Biomet metal hip implant lawsuit:

“On Nov. 26, 2013, testing of Mrs. Crampton-Humphreys’ blood revealed the presence of high levels of metallic ions (cobalt and chromium) from the M2A Magnum Hip System, known as metallosis. During the visit, upon the advice of physician, Mrs. Crampton-Humphrey’s agreed  to have her metal-on-metal prosthesis removed and replaced with a metal on polyethylene prosthesis.”

In February, Crampton-Humphreys was allegedly forced to undergo a risky and painful hip revision surgery to remove and replace the failed Biomet metal hip implant. Because the plaintiff allegedly developed metallosis and underwent an additional metal hip revision surgery, Crampton-Humphreys is at a higher risk of developing additional metal hip implant complications. In light of these potentially life-threatening complications, Crampton Humphreys has chosen to file a metal hip implant lawsuit against Biomet.

The Biomet Metal Hip Implant Lawsuit is Crampton–Humphreys v. Biomet Orthopedics LLC, Case No. 3:14-cv-01675-RLM-CAN, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.

Background on Biomet’s Magnum Hip Replacement System

Biomet Orthopedic designed and manufactured the M2A Magnum Hip Replacement system and received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its metal hip implant product in 2004. However, in 2009 the FDA received a substantial number of adverse event reports alleging Biomet’s Magnum hip implant failed and caused severe pain and suffering to Biomet patients. During 2011 alone, more than 80 Magnum metal hip implant failure reports were filed to the FDA.

According to several civil and class action lawsuit claims, Biomet allegedly knew that its  Magnum hip implant would prematurely fail within the first couple years of implantation, while traditional hip implants are expected to last 10-15 years.

Because of these alleged complications and damages, patients implanted with the Magnum device often have to undergo hip revision surgery, which is even more debilitating than the original hip implant surgery, prolongs patient recovery time, and increases patients’ risk of complications, or even death, during surgery.

Many individuals have reported severe and unwanted side effects from a failed Biomet metal hip implant and are now pursuing Biomet metal hip implant lawsuits or Biomet metal hip implant class action lawsuits.