Injuries Due to Artificial Hips
Hip replacements represent a significant advancement in medical technology. Artificial hips that are defective in design or manufacture, however, can result in serious problems including injuries that result in large medical bills and extensive pain. As a result, patients whose lives are negatively impacted by hip replacements should not hesitate to obtain the assistance of a seasoned attorney who knows how to make sure that adequate compensation is received. It also helps if patients understand some important information about how artificial hips fail.
The Danger of Metallic Hips
In metal on metal hip replacements, the metal ball and the metal cup rub together when a person is walking or running, which results in friction. The friction in metal hip replacements can result in small flakes of metal entering a person’s bloodstream. These metal flakes can end up harming a person’s bone, muscle, and nerves. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently states that there is not sufficient evidence to support the routine need for checking the presence of metal in the bloodstream of a person who has a hip replacement but does not display any signs. Leading medical experts recommend that patients with metal hip replacements receive blood tests every few months even if they do not have any symptoms, in case any problems arise.
Common Symptoms Due to Metal on Metal Hip Replacements
Patients who experience adverse symptoms from metal hip replacements frequently report blood poisoning or metallosis, fractures from falls after a hip joint freezes, hip joints that dislocate randomly, infection at the surgical site, and pain and swelling around the implant area. Some companies have even voluntarily recalled artificial hips.
Liability for Harm Caused by Artificial Hips
The manufacturers of artificial hips are held liable under the rules of product liability. If is determined that a product is defective due either to defective design or manufacture, it is often possible to hold various parties responsible for resulting damages. These parties include the designer, the distributor, the manufacturer, the research company, and the wholesaler. When an item fails due to a defect, the burden of proof shifts to the defendant to establish that there was not any negligence.
In some cases, medical professionals in addition to manufacturers and designers of the artificial hip can be held accountable for resulting injuries. If a medical professional incorrectly installed a person’s artificial hip, this could also result in a variety of medical complications. Additionally, in some situations, medical professionals might implant an artificial hip that has already been recalled by the distributor or manufacturer.
Speak with a Seasoned Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
Artificial hip cases involve a variety of complex legal issues. The legal counsel at Ferrara & Gable knows how to determine the various medical information associated with your hip to make a determination of which party is responsible for your accident. While each case will differ based on a variety of factors, our legal counsel will remain committed to fighting for the compensation that you deserve and make sure that your case resolves in the best possible manner.