When a hip implant fails, patients undergo hip revision surgery to remove and replace the device in order to prevent potentially irreversible complications. Unfortunately, metal hip revision surgery has a lower success rate than the initial implantation.

Hip Implant Basics

Hip replacement can help people suffering from joint pain, often caused by arthritis. For many, these joint pain issues worsen with walking, prevent proper rest, and persist despite pain medication. A hip replacement device can help alleviate joint pain and improve function.

Unfortunately, these metal hip implant devices do not last forever, and device failure can necessitate another surgery. A hip implant may fail simply because the joint has worn out, because the device has loosened, or developed another issue.

Significant complications have been associated with metal-on-metal implants in particular—devices in which the metal ball component and the metal cup component are directly joined together, causing them to slide against each other. This can lead to wear and tear of the implant, releasing metal particles into the bloodstream and causing metallosis (a kind of metal poisoning).

Revision surgery entails not only the removal of the problematic prosthesis, but also the cement, surrounding tissue, and dead bone. Then, a new prosthesis is inserted.

The risks associated with hip revision surgery are similar to the original surgery’s risks. However, hip revision surgery has a lower success rate than the initial implantation. This is because the bone is weaker.

Some of the possible side effects of hip revision surgery are relatively severe. Complications from hip revision surgery may include:

• Infection
• Device loosening
• Bone fractures
• Dislocation
• One leg shorter than the other
• Bone loss in the joint

Some of these complications are more common than others. Hip revision surgery patients experience infection about 2 to 4 percent of the time. Unfortunately, infection of a joint may necessitate surgical removal and re-implantation with an antibiotic-filled cement. Loosening of the prosthesis occurs about 10 to 15 percent of the time. This complication is more likely for patients who are overweight or who do not initially use crutches after surgery.

However, many patients experience no complications at all. Plus, technological and surgical advancements are being made all the time that improve these outcomes for patients.

Filing a Hip Implant Lawsuit

So far, tens of thousands of patients have filed lawsuits against a number of devices and manufacturers over hip implants made of metal. According to lawsuits, neither patients nor the medical community was adequately warned about the risks associated with their metal hip implants.

If you or someone you love have suffered from these or other complications because of a metal hip implant, you may be able to file a lawsuit. While filing a lawsuit cannot undo the pain and suffering caused by hip implantation or revision complications, it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses and lost wages.