Patients going in for hip replacement surgery do so because of the extreme pain and limited mobility they face.

A hip replacement is a major surgery, but many individuals welcome the intervention in hopes to regain movement and to lessen their pain.

Most patients expect a prolonged recovery time, but few expect they will have a whole new set of problems from their metal on metal hip implant.

Metal on Metal Hip Implant

There are several different types of hip implants that doctors may choose to place in a patient’s body to repair a hip. Ceramic hip replacement and metal hip replacement are the most commonly used.

When choosing metal hip replacement, doctors have two options. They may choose metal on metal hip replacement devices or those who have plastic components in addition to the metal hip parts.

In most metal hip replacements, there is a plastic or other synthetic material that is placed between the metal components so that the metal parts of the device do not touch.

In a metal on metal hip implant, no such barrier between the metal components exists. Some physicians have felt the metal on metal hip implant design has offered the most robust device, but many may not be aware of the potential risks that a metal on metal hip implant my pose.

Metal Toxicity from Hip Replacement

The most common issue stemming from a metal on metal hip implant is the development of metal toxicity following its implantation.

Because the metal pieces of the implant naturally rub together during normal use of the hip implant, small particles of metal slough off and enter the patient’s body.

Since the body sees the metal as a foreign invader, it begins to mount an immune response, and essentially, the body starts to reject the implant.

Patients may also have allergies to cobalt and chromium, two common components of metal hip implants, and these allergies may occur on top of the immune response.

Once the metal makes it to surrounding blood and tissue, it may cause bone and tissue to die.

Metallosis is systemic metal toxicity that results from having high levels of metal in the bloodstream. This condition begins to affect the nervous system and various organs in the body.

As a result, inflammation occurs at the implant site, causing more pain after hip replacement.

A number of issues can present systemically from metallosis including:

• Endocrine disruption, including thyroid problems
• Auditory problems, or even deafness
• Heart problems, including heart failure
• Nerve problem
• Problems with cognitive abilities
• Visual impairment, or even blindness
• Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression
• Skin rashes
• Implant loosening due to dead tissue surrounding the implant

Filing a Metal on Metal Hip Implant Lawsuit

If you had a metal on metal hip implant and subsequently developed metal toxicity from hip replacement, pain after hip replacement or any other serious side effects as a result of your implant, you may be entitled to legal compensation for your pain and suffering.

An experienced metal on metal hip implant attorney can review your case for free and can explain your legal options to you.