Defective Hip Manufacturers

Manufacturers of all products are expected to make sure those products are reasonably safe before they market and sell them to the public. Those who make medical devices need to take this legal responsibility especially seriously because a mistake made by a medical device manufacturer could have devastating consequences on the health of a patient.

Unfortunately, many manufacturers of medical devices have let their patients and the public down over the years. This is especially true of those who manufacture hip replacement products, as there have been thousands of cases in recent years where patients have experienced a device failure or complications because a hip joint replacement or hip implant product failed. If you or a loved one is one of the many who was injured by a defective hip manufacturer, the Boston defective hip implant lawyers at the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers are here to help you. Give us a call or contact us online today to learn more.

Metal-on-metal hip replacement products became very popular worldwide throughout the early 2000’s because these devices promised to provide patients with a longer-lasting hip replacement solution that, in some cases, would provide for greater mobility and flexibility. In fact, the British Medical Journal reports that around 10 percent of all hip replacement operations involved the use of metal-on-metal products. These products were manufactured by a variety of different companies, but almost all have proved to be dangerous or to have a high failure rate.

Manufacturers of these defective products include the following:

Biomet produced a modular device that was sold in a variety of different models including the M2a-38; M2a-Magnum, the M2a-Taper and the M2a-22mm. Biomet Inc. also produced and sold products labeled Exceed ABT and Stanmore.

Biomet made more than $312.9 million due to sales of its hip implant products in 2010, and Biomet products accounted for approximately 12 percent of hip replacement products implanted in patients in the United States. Unfortunately, many of the Biomet products are dangerous and cause complications including metallosis. More than 450 adverse events related to the Biomet M2a magnum were reported to the FDA.

DePuy Orthopaedics is a division of Johnson & Johnson that developed and sold three defective hip replacement devices since 2000. These include the ASR XL Acetabular System; the Pinnacle Hip Replacement System; and the ASR hip resurfacing system.

The DePuy hip replacement devices have been shown in some studies to have an even higher failure rate than many other brands of metal-on-metal hip replacement products. DePuy is facing around 12,000 lawsuits from patients who experienced complications and failure with their hip replacement products, and the two ASR systems were both recalled and removed from the market in mid-2010.

Evidence at the first trial based on the ASR system in 2013 indicated that DePuy likely knew that its ASR system would have a 40 percent failure rate within five years, although DePuy executives continue to assert that the ASR was thoroughly tested prior to being approved and sold worldwide.

Smith & Nephew PLC has its headquarters in the United Kingdom and is a medical device company that manufactures joint replacement systems, among other products. Smith & Nephew has made important contributions to the design of hip replacement products, including introducing an exclusive alloy called Oxinium that is used in its Verilast hip and knee replacement products.

Unfortunately, Smith & Nephew also produced defective hip replacement products. Approximately 3,000 to 4,000 people throughout the United States had Smith & Nephew’s modular R3 Acetabular System implanted from 2009 to 2012. The metal lined component of this system proved to be faulty, though, resulting in a high risk of failure and creating the potential for complications including bone fracture, dislocation and infection. Smith & Nephew recalled the metal liner component of the system in June of 2012.

Stryker Orthopaedics differed from other metal-on-metal hip replacement products because the devices were more customizable and promised greater flexibility. However, both the Rejuvenate and the ABG II modular-neck hip replacement stems have a high failure rate and can cause complications including metallosis and a loosening of the hip implant.

Stryker issued warnings about the hazards of the products to medical professionals and recalled both systems in July of 2012. In August of that same year, the first lawsuit against the medical device manufacturer was filed.

Wright Medical Technology, Inc. has its headquarters in Arlington, Tennessee and derives about 60 percent of its sales from hip and knee replacement products. Wright Medical Technology, Inc. sells its products in more than 60 different countries and it controls approximately two percent of the hip and knee replacement market in the United States.

Among Wright Medical’s products is the Conserve Plus Total Resurfacing Hip System, which is a metal-on-metal hip replacement product. Another is a modular metal hip replacement product called the Profemur Z Hip Stem. Approximately 10,000 of these devices were implanted in patients since 2003. Unfortunately, these hip replacement products are similar to those manufactured by DePuy Orthopaedics and they have a high failure rate for patients.

Zimmer Holdings released a Durom Acetabular Component called a Durom Cup in 2006. The Durom cup is a metal hip socket that is secured in the acetabulum with the use of a plasma coating designed to promote bone growth and fuse the cub with the body. Unfortunately, proper attachment of the implant doesn’t always occur and patients can experience significant pain when it fails.

The Durom Cup was briefly recalled by Zimmer Holdings in 2008 to revise and clarify the instructions in order to reduce the risk to patients. The product was then returned to the market, despite known risks. Thousands of patients have now had the Durom Cup installed and many are experiencing complications including metallosis and a high failure rate of their hip implant procedure.

Each of these manufacturers should have made sure their products were safe before releasing them to the public. Unfortunately, problems have developed with all of their medical devices. If you or a loved one has been harmed by any metal-on-metal hip implant manufacturer, you may have a legal right to obtain compensation. An experienced Boston defective hip implant lawyer at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers can help with your case, so give us a call or contact us online today.