| A defective hip replacement can have extremely | | | | properly. |
| detrimental consequences that range anywhere from | | | | This caused the shell to loosen and move causing a |
| permanent injury and additional surgeries to possible | | | | build-up of scar tissue. In some cases, the result was |
| death. These types of injuries have extreme | | | | further permanent bone loss. In most cases, within |
| emotionally damaging effects on the individual and | | | | six months of surgery, patients began experiencing |
| the family. In many cases, they can also cause a lot | | | | the following symptoms: |
| of financial stress and hardship. | | | | • Pain when rising from a seated position |
| Hip replacement surgeries are performed every day. | | | | • Pain in the groin and inner thigh |
| Unfortunately, it is not the procedure itself that is | | | | • Weight-bearing pain, particularly in the buttocks |
| creating problems and concerns for the patient. The | | | | The result of these defective implants is that the |
| quality of the prosthesis used in the procedure is the | | | | patients not only had to undergo one tough surgery, |
| focus of concern. | | | | but now have to repeat the process and live with |
| The Defect | | | | irreversible damage that the defective device has |
| An artificial hip is made up of two parts. These pieces | | | | caused. |
| were created to duplicate the ball-and-socket design. | | | | It is estimated that nearly 310,000 Americans have |
| A metal ball with a stem fits into the thigh bone | | | | partial or total hip replacement surgery each year. |
| (femur), and the socket is a titanium shell lined with | | | | Most operations are performed to relieve the pain of |
| polyethylene that fits against the pelvic bone. The | | | | arthritis. The cost of this surgery runs between |
| titanium was designed to be porous so it will fuse to | | | | $20,000 and $50,000. Hip replacement surgery is |
| the bone. | | | | believed to become even more common as the |
| After eight weeks of investigation in December of | | | | population ages. |
| 2000, Sulzer Orthopedics determined that the | | | | Patients who have undergone hip replacement |
| titanium shell of its hip replacement product was | | | | surgery are encouraged to schedule an appointment |
| defective. The result was that 17,500 shells were | | | | with their physician to determine if their orthopedic |
| recalled. Ninety percent of them had been implanted | | | | implant is one of the models recalled. Surgical steps |
| in U.S. patients. Sulzer controls approximately 11% of | | | | can be taken to fix the problem, but the longer the |
| the hip replacement market. In the products where | | | | problem is left untreated, the worse the outcome |
| the shell is cemented to the pelvic bone, the parts | | | | may be. Physicians can thoroughly assess the |
| were not found to be defective. | | | | situation to determine if any damage has occurred |
| The problem was traced to four mineral-based oils | | | | due to a faulty implant. In some cases, compensation |
| used in the lubricants during the manufacturing | | | | may be available. |
| process. These oils were not intended to have any | | | | Sulzer is not the only manufacturer of defective hip |
| contact with the human body. The problem involved | | | | replacement products. Before considering any type of |
| leaking oil that had seeped into the porous titanium. | | | | hip replacement surgery, conduct some research on |
| After the patient’s implant surgery, the oil | | | | your own. |
| prevented the shell and pelvic bone from bonding | | | | |