Thousands of Americans undergo hip replacement surgery each year, but what happens when the implanted device is defective? Consumer Notice reports that this is not uncommon, with around 29,000 lawsuits filed last year related to defective hip replacement parts.
If you have an artificial hip and the brand is one of several currently involved in one of these lawsuits, you may want to understand the medical risks of its failure and how it can affect your health.
Failure symptoms
While hip replacement surgery often comes with some risks, complications caused by defective hip devices may differ from typical problems and can include a variety of symptoms:
- Reduced kidney function
- Hearing or vision changes
- Enlargement of the heart
Some of these issues are caused by metal toxicity, which can occur when the defective artificial hips break apart.
Injury risks
When defective hip implants break or detach, they can cause serious and sometimes permanent injuries. These devices can also loosen from the surgical area and cause severe pain. You may even require additional surgeries to repair the problem, which could result in further rehabilitation. If the defect is severe enough, you may lose some or all of your mobility.
Identifying defective implants
If you underwent hip surgery recently and worry that your implant is one of the brands currently involved in a device failure lawsuit, you can speak to your doctor about the possible risks you might face. Wright, Stryker and DePuy hip replacement devices are included in recent lawsuit cases.
Faulty hip implant manufacturers have paid out millions of dollars to individuals injured by their products. Learning about your risk of injury may help you prevent serious medical issues in the future.
