Nearly 2,000 Biomet hip replacement lawsuits have been consolidated into a Biomet MDL (multidistrict litigation)

The Biomet MDL was filed last month in Indiana.

Biomet MDL plaintiffs have alleged that the Biomet M2a Magnum hip failed and caused side effects including metallosis, pseudotumor formation, and chronic pain. This metal-on-metal hip replacement has allegedly caused toxic substances, such as chromium or cobalt, to enter the bloodstream due to particles shedding from the Biomet hip replacement.

The Indiana court announced terms of settlement in February 2014. Under the terms of the settlement, all plaintiffs who removed the Biomet M2a Magnum hip within 190 days after the original hip replacement surgery would be given a $200,000 base award. These terms of settlement need to be approved by 90 percent of the plaintiffs in order to be finalized.

Dangers of Metal-on Metal Hip Replacements

Hundreds of individuals have complained that the Biomet hip replacement system has failed and led to severe side effects.

Biomet hip replacement complications may include:

• Failure of the metal on metal hip implant requiring early replacement
• Dislocated hip
• Leaking of toxic substances in the bloodstream from the hip implant like chromium or cobalt
• Cancer
• Degenerative heart disease or cardiomyopathy
• Loss of bone strength or structure which can result in bone fractures
• Tissue death for any tissue surrounding the implant
• Non-cancerous tumors or pseudotumors around the hip implant
• Cobalt poisoning
• Metallosis or metal poisoning due to chromium or cobalt particles from the hip implant leaking into nearby tissue or the patient’s bloodstream

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2013 announced that claimed metal-on-metal hip replacements were more likely to fail when compared to other materials used in hip replacement. (Other hip replacement options include metal-on-plastic or metal-on-ceramic.)

One 2012 hip replacement study suggested that 95 percent of patients who had failed metal-on-metal hip replacements had to replace them within three years. Since metal-on-metal hips have a higher chance of failing, this could mean hundreds of hip revision surgeries for patients.

The FDA encouraged patients with devices like the Biomet hip replacement to have their blood monitored for metal ions as well as to look out for signs that the metal-on-metal hip is no longer working properly.

Over 100 adverse events were reported to the FDA concerning the Biomet M2a Magnum hip alone before January 2014. Most adverse events go unreported. It is possible that hundreds more individuals have experienced Biomet side effects.

Biomet lawsuits have been filed claiming that the Biomet hip replacement caused severe side effects, death, or loss of consortium (loss of intimacy with a spouse). The Biomet MDL is expected to move forward over the upcoming months.

This Biomet Hip Replacement MDL is MDL No. 2391, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.