Failed Hip Replacements

Hip replacements can be crucial for senior citizens to be able to continue living a high quality of life, however they can also create serious, even life-threatening conditions that result in costly medical procedures and significant pain and suffering for the patient. Whether you or a loved one has suffered from a botched hip replacement surgery, are experiencing metal poisoning after a hip replacement or have another type of claim, the hip replacement experts at Altman & Altman LLP can help you today.

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it is possible that your hip replacement was not entirely successful, and you may be suffering harm as a result:

• Persistent pain in the hip or groin area
• Soreness when walking or sitting
• Swelling in the legs or hip area
• Signs attributed to metal poisoning, such as irritated skin or mental fogginess

How do Hip Replacements Cause Harm?

Hip replacements happen very frequently, as many as 860,000 of them over the past five years according to Consumer Safety. This represents a sharp increase in the number of procedures, of which there were about 45,000 in 2012, compared to over 280,000 in 2017.

Hip replacements are complex procedures that involve replacing a patient’s natural hip structure with manufactured pieces, normally to correct an area of the hip that has become withered or dysfunctional through aging and wear and tear. Hip replacements can involve completely replacing the hip bones or just select parts, such as the ball and socket joint. The hip implants can be made out of metal, ceramics or plastics.

While hip replacement surgeries have become more commonplace and less risky than in years past, they are still not perfect and there are still ample ways that you can become seriously debilitated as a result, including:

Medical malpractice.
As with any surgical procedure, medical malpractice can result in serious harm to the patient before, during or after the operation. Examples of medical malpractice include operating on the wrong side or part of the hip, failing to properly anesthetize the patient prior to conducting the operation and leaving surgical implements such as sponges or medical gauze in the patient, which can lead to serious consequences such as blood poisoning.

Unsuccessful surgery.
Not all surgeries go according to plan, and patients may develop swelling, blood clots or other serious side effects as a result of the operation. Some cases have involved new implants breaking or fractures of the natural bones occurring near the implant site – requiring another surgery to correct the malfunction and putting even more stress on the patient.

Metallosis (metal poisoining).
One of the most common materials used in hip replacement implants is cobalt chromium, due to its combination of strength and lightweight properties. However, there have been cases of these implants releasing microscopic but significant quantities of the metal into the patient’s body, which can cause a body reaction known as metallosis – a type of blood poisoning. This condition can lead to severe discomfort, skin reactions and even memory loss, cognitive impairment and the death of surrounding tissue.

What to do After a Botched Hip Replacement

In Massachusetts, there are varying factors that affect how long you have before you can no longer file a claim for medical malpractice stemming from a bad hip replacement. As soon as you notice something is not right, you should contact one of our expert personal injury attorneys to see what possibilities are available to you should you wish to file a claim.

The attorneys at Altman & Altman LLP have over 50 years of experience advocating on behalf of our clients who have been injured due to many different kinds of medical malpractice. We have the knowledge to inform you how much time you have left to file a claim, and can provide necessary guidance to file a successful claim to recover money needed to pay hospital bills or recover money lost from being unable to work.

Contact us online or call for a free consultation to go over the details of your case today at 617.492.3000 or toll-free at 800.481.6199. We are available 24/7.