Minneapolis Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant Lawyer

As a patient, you have the right to expect your doctor and surgeon to do what is in your best interest. Physicians operate under oath and according to high standards to treat patients and take reasonable measures to prevent injuries. Unfortunately, physicians can only protect patients to a certain extent. When the problem lies with the medical device and not with the physician, there is often no preventing injuries and patient harms. This is the case with many recent metal-on-metal hip implant cases. At Knutson + Casey, we can help you file a claim against hip implant manufacturers or other parties.

Problems with Metal-on-Metal Implants

Several years ago, hip implant manufacturers began substituting metals for other materials in their devices. They alleged that the cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy implants were stronger and more durable than their counterparts. Unfortunately, issues began to arise soon after patients underwent surgery for the metal hip implants. These implant systems – total hip replacement and hip resurfacing – were causing a series of negative health effects and patient outcomes, including:

  • Allergic reaction
  • Bone loss
  • Dead tissue
  • Device failure
  • Groin pain
  • Implant loosening
  • Metal ball and metal cup rubbing against each other during activities
  • Metal releasing where the implant components connect
  • Metallosis
  • Neurological or sensory changes
  • Noise from the hip joint
  • Pain and swelling at the site
  • Psychological damages, including depression and anxiety
  • Renal function impairment
  • Revision surgery
  • Skin rash
  • Systemic reactions due to metal ions in the bloodstream
  • Thyroid dysfunction
  • Tiny metal particles causing damage to the tissue, muscles, and bones surrounding the implant (adverse local tissue reactions)

Studies are ongoing to explore and document all negative reactions and outcomes to metal-on-metal hip implants. While not all patients with this type of implant suffer bad reactions, thousands of people have filed lawsuits for these symptoms since the start of metal-on-metal hip replacement surgeries. No matter what type of damage you sustained after getting a metal-on-metal hip implant, explore your rights with help from the lawyers at Knutson + Casey.

Should You Talk to an Attorney?

When you received your hip implant, you probably had high hopes for how it would positively transform your life. Hip replacement surgery aims to repair one of the largest and most important joints in the body, giving patients back the ability to walk, run, and jump without hip pain. For the most part, hip replacement surgery is a safe and effective solution for chronic hip joint pain and immobility. Sadly, not every patient will enjoy positive outcomes after hip replacement. Metal-on-metal devices may cause more problems than they solve.

Despite high industry standards and safety regulations, medical device manufacturers may still make mistakes that lead to patient injuries and deaths. The inherently dangerous design of metal-on-metal hip implants is an example of a manufacturer error that has had terrible consequences for thousands of patients. These cases center on the legal theory of product liability in which the courts hold a manufacturer liable for defective products.

More than 20,000 patents have received metal-on-metal hip implants since their debut. Today, thousands are bringing lawsuits against the product manufacturers for flawed, defective, and inherently dangerous devices. Patients have suffered serious physical pain, mental anguish, and financial losses because of metal-on-metal hip replacements. They have had to undergo additional surgeries, pay for extended hospital stays, and miss weeks or months at work during recovery and rehabilitation.

If this sounds like you or a loved one, the attorneys at Knutson + Casey encourage you to contact us. Call (507) 344-8888 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We offer home, hospital, and recovery center visits if necessary.