Biomet Inc. has recently been hit with a metal hip implant lawsuit, from a woman who had undergone hip replacement surgery using a Biomet hip replacement.

Nevada plaintiff Rebecca F. underwent right hip replacement surgery in August 2005, in which the Biomet M2A Magnum Hip Replacement System was used. This particular Biomet hip replacement product is a metal-on-metal hip implant, which was advertised to be superior to the plastic or ceramic models.

Two years later, in May 2007, Rebecca decided to undergo hip replacement surgery on her left hip using the same Biomet hip replacement. In 2008, however, Rebecca and her physicians had discovered the severe complications associated with metal-on-metal hip implants from Biomet and other manufacturers.

Overview of Biomet Metal Hip Implant Complications

When metal-on-metal hip implants were first created, manufacturers toted them to be superior to the plastic or ceramic models.

Not only were they advertised to be more durable and longer lasting, but most of them could be custom made for each patient. The product line Rebecca’s hip implant is a part of was expected to allow her longer range of motion and have lower chances of dislocation.

Biomet is one of several manufacturing companies that jumped into this lucrative market, producing the Biomet Hip 2A Magnum Hip Replacement System and several other metal hip implant models.

Even though Biomet hip replacements are popular, there have been a number of complaints regarding their metal-on-metal hip implants. These injury reports range from infection and metallosis to device failure, with many of these patients needing revision surgery.

Rebecca was one of these unfortunate patients, as her implant complications lead her to undergo revision surgery in September 2015 to remove her left hip implant. The adverse effects she reported included device failure and elevated metal ions, which would have led to further complications if not removed.

Metallosis, or blood metal poisoning, is one of the most dangerous side effects a patient can suffer from a metal-on-metal hip implant. The condition occurs in patients when metal ions in the body rise to a dangerous level, and has been diagnosed numerous times in patients who underwent hip replacement surgery using an all metal hip model.

When the metal ball-and-socket implant interact, metal ions can shed into the bloodstream and cause a number of complications. These complications can include tissue infection, device failure, pain, immobility, and the formation of pseudotumors.

Rebecca and a number of other patients claim that Biomet had failed to warn them of these complications, and say they would not have undergone hip replacement surgery using metal Biomet hip replacements had they known. Rebecca is suing Biomet for allegedly being responsible for manufacturing and selling an unreasonably dangerous product.

This Metal Hip Replacement Lawsuit is Case No. 2:16-cv-00264-APG-PAL, in the U.S. District Court of Nevada.