Defective Medical Device Attorneys with 50+ Years Experience
Most hip implants are made of ceramic and plastic, with only a few metal parts. The first metal-on-metal implants were made in the 1950s, but quickly fell out of favor because of high failure rates and metal particles contaminating patients’ bloodstream (a condition called metallosis). Just 30 years later, companies like Stryker developed new metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implants with the same defective design. They advertised these “new” devices as stronger and more stable, alternatives to other types of implants, yet didn’t conduct any long-term testing to determine if this was true. Unfortunately, just like the MoM implants from the 1950s, these devices had serious design flaws causing early failure, metallosis, and many recalls. Six companies now face tens of thousands of injury lawsuits over MoM implants.
With over 10,000 injury cases handled nationwide and 50 years of collective experience, you can trust our Chicago defective medical device lawyers to handle your case with compassion and expertise. Call (800) 390-8383 for a free case evaluation with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. We can travel to you.
Metal-on-Metal Hip Manufacturers
Due to alarmingly high rates of failure and allergic reactions, in 2011, the FDA told MoM manufacturers to start monitoring and reporting on all patients who received these implants Two years later, the agency issued a Safety Communication to surgeons and patients stating MoM devices had unique risks beyond the complications of all other hip implants.
There are six MoM hip manufacturers:
- Biomet Zimmer
- DePuy
- OMNI
- Smith & Nephew
- Stryker
- Wright
In 2013, the FDA issued a Safety Communication to surgeons and patients . The Safety Communication stated that MoM devices had unique risks beyond the complications of all other hip implants.
MoM risks include:
- Bone and/or tissue damage (metallosis)
- Device loosening and/or failure
- Need for replacement surgery
- Other symptoms, like vision or hearing problems, kidney impairment, thyroid dysfunction, and psychological changes.
Ultimately, the FDA confirmed that the risks associated with MoM implants far outweighed the benefits. These risks worsen with the inability to predict which patients will react badly, when the reaction will occur, or how severe it will be.
For a free legal consultation with a Metal-on-Metal Hip Device Claims Lawyer serving nationwide, call (800) 390-8383
CASE UPDATE: Six Hip Plaintiffs Win $1 Billion Jury Verdict
A jury in Texas hit Johnson & Johnson on Thursday, December 1st, 2016, ordering the company to pay six hip injury victims $1 billion. All six plaintiffs were injured by J&J’s Pinnacle hip implants. More than 8,000 Pinnacle injury lawsuits remain against J&J and its DePuy Orthopaedics unit. Plaintiffs experienced bone erosion, tissue death, revision surgeries, and other injuries from Pinnacle hip implants.
Call or text (800) 390-8383 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form