Metal Hip Implant Failures Lead to New Procedures to Prevent and Detect Problems

• High failure rate
• Degenerative heart disease
• Metallosis
• Cobalt poisoning
• Tissue death in tissue surrounding the implant
• Cancer
• Dislocated hip
• Bone fractures

Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants Now Subject to Premarket Clinical Trials

The tremendous failure of metal hip implants stems in part because the devices were exempt from the requirement that all new products undergo premarket clinical testing. However, metal hip implants were approved through a regulatory process that allows manufacturers to release a product that is substantially similar to a previously approved product without undergoing premarket testing.

In January, the FDA recommended that all metal-on-metal hip implants go through the premarket approval process to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the products. The agency also recommended patients who receive metal-on-metal hip implants to undergo regular physicals, metal ion testing and diagnostic imaging to increase the likelihood of catching potential implant failure early.

New Study Shows MRIs Effective at Predicting Metal Hip Implant Failure

Doctors and patients have struggled to determine the best course of action for patients who have received metal hip implants. On one hand, it is in the best interest of the patient to detect potential implant failure as early as possible. On the other hand, it is expensive and tedious to subject patients to testing that may not be effective at predicting hip implant failure. However, a recent study suggests that MRIs may be useful tools to predict metal hip implant failure even before patients experience symptoms.

According to an article that was published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery on May 15, an MRI was able to detect tissue damage in 78 percent of patients who reported unexplained pain and in 68 percent of asymptomatic patients. These results are encouraging because MRIs may help doctors predict metal-on-metal hip implant failure and provide revision surgery before the patient becomes symptomatic, minimizing the amount of hip tissue damage they suffer.

Many Patients Injured by Metal Hip Implants Are Suing the Device Manufacturers

Many people who have suffered serious metal-on-metal hip implant complications have filed lawsuits against the device manufacturers, claiming that the companies sold a defective product. In 2010, Johnson & Johnson issued a recall of its DePuy ASR hip implant due to high failure rates. The company recently announced that it was phasing out production of all of its metal hip implants. In 2012, Stryker voluntarily recalled its Rejuvenate and ABG II hip replacement systems due to reports of metallic debris entering patients’ bloodstream.

If you or someone you love has experienced complications from a metal-on-metal hip implant, you are far from alone. Many people have stepped up to take legal action against the device manufacturers for selling a defective product. To learn more about your legal rights, visit the Stryker Metal-on-metal Hip Implant Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. When you submit information about your metal-on-metal hip implant complications, a lawyer will review your case for free. If you qualify to file a metal-on-metal hip implant lawsuit, you could receive significant compensation for your injuries.