Wright Medical Hip Implant Lawsuit Update: Judge Orders Documents

Wright Medical Hip Implant Lawsuit Update: Judge Orders Documents

By Andrea Gressman

In the latest Wright Medical hip implant news, a September 4, 2012 order mandates the necessity for defendants to produce documents and information on problems linked to Profemur neck stems manufactured by Wright Medical for the use in metal hip implants. Wright has refused to produce such documents, as the company states they have nothing to do with the Conserve hip replacement system, but only with the Profemur implant. However, Judge Duffey disagrees, saying that the documents must be produced, as they are relevant.

Wright Medical Hip Implant Lawsuits Claim Profemur and Conserve Components are Related

Court documents have stated the request by plaintiffs of these documents many months ago, for the purpose of obtaining design and functionality information regarding the Wright Profemur neck stem. They contested that the component was a major part of the defective design for the Conserve metal-on-metal hip replacement system manufactured by Wright. The device was brought to market following the release of the Profemur.

Another reason the plaintiffs wanted to look at the documents was due to a complaint in the Wright Medical hip implant lawsuit MDL involving issues on the interaction between the Conserve Wright hip replacement implant and the Profemur neck system.

Differing from alternative hip systems, the Wright Profemur was a seen as a market revolution due to its inclusion of a modular neck component, featuring a neck that is designed to fit in its own separate stem, providing options for the surgeon in matching the device to the recipient. The design was flawed, it turns out, because the modular neck joint may corrode, which may cause swelling, pain, pseudotumors, and may even cause the hip to fail earlier than anticipated.

In Wright Conserve hip implant lawsuits, there are complaints directed at the Conserve and Profemur hip implant parts, in which the plaintiff claims that the same revolutionary design (the bendable neck of the device) is the very same design that led to its failure, creating more corrosion of metal at the femoral head junction component and the femoral stem neck.

Plaintiff Request Granted by Judge in Wright Medical Hip Implant Lawsuits

The judge is in agreement with the plaintiff, as he ruled that the discovery about the Profemur is indeed appropriate. He agreed with the plaintiff’s right to entitlement to documentation and information about the function of the neck and the design of the implant. Also, information regarding worries or dangers associated with the neck component, any notices or investigations of corrosions of the neck piece, as well as any realized or potential failure of the device, and any side effects related to the implants use, as well as how effective the device actually is.

Additionally, the judge stated that plaintiffs also has the right of access to previous compensation payments Wright Medical paid to doctors, and those involved in the testing, design, evaluation of investigations, development, and marketing strategy implementation of the Conserve hip implant device.

Wright Medical Hip Implant Lawsuits MDL Consolidation

All federal Wright Conserve hip implant lawsuits were consolidated into Georgia’s Northern District U.S. District court by a MDL Judicial Panel on February 8, 2012. Four Wright Medical hip implant lawsuits from Arizona, Utah, Georgia, and California were combined, with 16 other Wright Medical hip implant lawsuits thought to be potential tag-along actions.

There are numerous Wright Medical hip implant lawsuits filed by plaintiffs concerning damages possibly caused by the Wright Profemur and Wright Conserve hip implants. Both are similar in that they involve claims of metal poisoning and contamination, which lead to health problems and mandatory revision surgery a few years after the device was implanted.

If you have experienced one or more of the severe side effects caused by the faulty design of a Wright Medical hip implant product please visit the Wright Medical Technology Conserve, Profemur Metal Hip Implant Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page right away. There are experienced Wright Medical hip implant lawsuit attorneys ready to provide a free consultation so that they can learn more about your situation.