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Hip Replacement

Medical device surgically implanted in individuals to increase mobility in patients who suffer from chronic inflammatory disease causing joint pain, stiffness, and swelling; avascular necrosis, injury, and bone tumors. There are three parts to a hip replacement The Acetabular component which is the socket, The Acetabular liner which is the liner that fits into the Acetabular component. The Acetabular component is what the femoral Head and Stem fit into for hip rotation.

History: Hip replacements have been used in the United States since the 1950’s. Since that time there have been many complications with the materials used to manufacture the hip replacement parts. According to drugwatch.com “From 2002 to 2014, Consumer’s Union found 578 recalls from six major manufacturers: Biomet, DePuy, Smith & Nephew, Stryker, Wright and Zimmer. Stryker had the most recalls with 231 and DePuy came in second with 150. These recalls came too late for tens of thousands of people who already received the problematic devices.” https://www.drugwatch.com/hip-replacement/recalls/. In 2011 the FDA ordered the medical manufacturers to conduct post market studies on the metal-on-metal hip replacements. One year after the study the FDA stated there is no reason for surgeons to use the metal-on-metal products that were on the market. Many of the hip replacements that were on the market were voluntarily recalled. There have been multiple lawsuits over metal-on-metal hip replacements. There are around 14,000 lawsuits pending in federal multi-district litigation against DePuy, Stryker, Zimmer, Biomet, Wright, Smith & Nephew. There have been multi-million-dollar settlements against manufacturers for the injury the defective implants have caused.

Manufacturer: Biomet, DePuy Orthopedics, Smith & Nephew, Stryker Orthopedics

Serious Side effects – Bone Death, Fracture, Loosening of implant, Metal Poisoning, Tissue Calcification