Miami Hip Replacement Lawyer

Total hip arthroplasty, or hip replacement surgery, involves the replacement of a damaged or worn out hip joint with an artificial joint, often because a patient is suffering from arthritis or sustained a hip fracture. Hip replacement surgery can help offer relief to those whose pain can’t be controlled by other treatments and can also return mobility to injured patients. Unfortunately, even patients with the most careful and precise surgeons could end up suffering from hip pain and even more severe problems if they receive a defective implant. This happens far more often than most people realize and can have severe repercussions for patients. It is, however, possible to hold manufacturers accountable for their design and production failures if a prosthesis is deemed to be defective, so if you received a defective hip implant, you should consider reaching out to an experienced Miami hip replacement lawyer who can help you with your claim.

When are Hip Replacements Necessary?

Hip replacement surgery, as its name suggests, is a treatment for pain and disability in the hip that involves replacing the hip joint entirely with a prosthesis. This type of surgery is a common treatment for those suffering from osteoarthritis, which causes the loss of joint cartilage in the hip, as well as for those with rheumatoid arthritis. Hip replacement surgery can also be used to treat hip fractures.

Hip Prostheses

Hip replacement surgery itself involves the removal of the damaged part of the hip joint and the replacement of those parts with a prosthesis. Hip prostheses are made up of a stem that goes into the femur, a head joint that fits into the stem, and a cup that is inserted into the socket of the joint. Most prosthetic hips are made of both metal and ceramic, although the cup portions may be made of plastic. The two most common types of hip prostheses are cemented prostheses, which are attached to the bone with cement, and uncemented prostheses, which attach to the bone with a porous surface.

Hip Replacement Lawsuits

Once recovered from hip replacement surgery, a patient should have improved mobility, as well as less pain and stiffness in the hip joint. Unfortunately, this sometimes doesn’t prove to be the case, with patients experiencing severe complications. While some problems can arise from the surgery itself, complications are often the result of the use of a defective hip prosthesis. When this occurs, injured patients are often entitled to compensation from the manufacturer if they suffer from:

• Metal poisoning or allergies;
• The loosening or dislocation of the implant;
• Damage to the bone and soft tissue;
• The formation of lesions, caused by an adverse reaction to the hip implant; and
• The disconnection of the implant’s components.

These kinds of problems can cause severe pain, swelling, a loss of mobility and often require revision surgery. Fortunately, plaintiffs who can prove that a hip implant was defective can recover compensation for additional medical treatment.

Call Today for Help with Your Case

Please contact Spencer Morgan Law at 305-423-3800 to speak with one of our dedicated Miami hip replacement lawyers about your legal options following the implantation of a defective hip prosthesis.