Hip Replacement Failure
Each year, approximately 200,000 Americans undergo total hip replacement (THR) surgery. This invasive orthopedic surgery is popularly termed hip replacement and hip implantation, or artificial hip surgery, and is medically known as total hip arthroplasty or hip hemiarthroplasty.
The first hip replacement surgeries were performed in 1980-1981, and almost immediately there were reports of serious complications. Performed under general anesthesia by an orthopedic surgeon (orthopaedist), the surgery involves the complete surgical removal of the damaged, fractured or diseased ball-and-socket parts of the hip joint, and replacement with metal and/or plastic or ceramic artificial parts called a prosthesis or prosthetic implants.
Chronic arthritic hip and pelvic pain suffered while walking is the usual medical indication which justifies this drastic surgery, but only as a last resort and when other non-surgical therapies have failed.
While most hip replacement surgeries performed today proceed without incident, with the patient regaining relatively pain-free mobility, there have been glaring incidents of medical and surgical negligence warranting recovery against the orthopedic surgeon under theories of medical malpractice, For example, in the recent case of Stevens v. Bronx Cross County Medical Group, P.C., a hip replacement malpractice action brought against an orthopedic surgeon, a $3 million-dollar jury award was deemed reasonable for past and future pain and suffering, and residual permanent injury, where the patient at age 21, had already undergone two hip replacement surgeries, and because of defendant's negligence in performing the original hip replacement surgery, and his failure in adequately testing for and detecting signs of slipped capitol femoral epiphysis, it was estimated that plaintiff would require hip replacement surgery periodically, at least five or six more times, during the balance of her life.
Where a hip joint prosthesis inserted during hip replacement surgery has failed because of a defect in design, testing, or manufacture, recovery has been sought against the manufacturer under theories of product liability. Prosthesis defect, in this regard, has also been sometimes glaring, and truly unfortunate and agonizing for the hip replacement patient, who, because of the defective prosthesis, must undergo painful revision surgery in which the defective hip joint prosthesis is replaced with a sound one. For example, in the class action product liability settlement, In re Sulzer Hip Prosthesis Liability Litigation, Sulzer acetabular prostheses inserted in hip replacement surgery were rendered defective because of a residue of mineral oil left on the prosthesis during the manufacturing process. The residue of oil had caused the prosthesis to loosen within the acetabular socket, thereby negating its functional purpose. Revision surgery was necessitated to replace the defective prosthesis with a sound one. More than 20,000 patients were affected by the defective prosthesis, and virtually all had to undergo revision surgery.
If you are someone you know has been injured by a defective hip replacement call the Law Office of Harold D. Thompson right away. Let our experienced team of attorneys evaluate your case properly. 619.615.0767.
The first hip replacement surgeries were performed in 1980-1981, and almost immediately there were reports of serious complications. Performed under general anesthesia by an orthopedic surgeon (orthopaedist), the surgery involves the complete surgical removal of the damaged, fractured or diseased ball-and-socket parts of the hip joint, and replacement with metal and/or plastic or ceramic artificial parts called a prosthesis or prosthetic implants.
Chronic arthritic hip and pelvic pain suffered while walking is the usual medical indication which justifies this drastic surgery, but only as a last resort and when other non-surgical therapies have failed.
While most hip replacement surgeries performed today proceed without incident, with the patient regaining relatively pain-free mobility, there have been glaring incidents of medical and surgical negligence warranting recovery against the orthopedic surgeon under theories of medical malpractice, For example, in the recent case of Stevens v. Bronx Cross County Medical Group, P.C., a hip replacement malpractice action brought against an orthopedic surgeon, a $3 million-dollar jury award was deemed reasonable for past and future pain and suffering, and residual permanent injury, where the patient at age 21, had already undergone two hip replacement surgeries, and because of defendant's negligence in performing the original hip replacement surgery, and his failure in adequately testing for and detecting signs of slipped capitol femoral epiphysis, it was estimated that plaintiff would require hip replacement surgery periodically, at least five or six more times, during the balance of her life.
Where a hip joint prosthesis inserted during hip replacement surgery has failed because of a defect in design, testing, or manufacture, recovery has been sought against the manufacturer under theories of product liability. Prosthesis defect, in this regard, has also been sometimes glaring, and truly unfortunate and agonizing for the hip replacement patient, who, because of the defective prosthesis, must undergo painful revision surgery in which the defective hip joint prosthesis is replaced with a sound one. For example, in the class action product liability settlement, In re Sulzer Hip Prosthesis Liability Litigation, Sulzer acetabular prostheses inserted in hip replacement surgery were rendered defective because of a residue of mineral oil left on the prosthesis during the manufacturing process. The residue of oil had caused the prosthesis to loosen within the acetabular socket, thereby negating its functional purpose. Revision surgery was necessitated to replace the defective prosthesis with a sound one. More than 20,000 patients were affected by the defective prosthesis, and virtually all had to undergo revision surgery.
If you are someone you know has been injured by a defective hip replacement call the Law Office of Harold D. Thompson right away. Let our experienced team of attorneys evaluate your case properly. 619.615.0767.