What are the Risks of a Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement?

If you have received a metal-on-metal hip replacement implant, you may be at risk of suffering several different health complications due to product defects. Hopefully you have not experienced any problems, but if you have, it is very important that you know your legal rights.

Did I Receive a Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement?

There is a very good chance that you were told what type of implant you received before your surgery. However, you would be surprised how many patients do not know what kind of device they had implanted. Please know that your surgeon and the facility where you received your implant should have record of this.

If you did receive a metal-on-metal hip replacement, you need to be aware that many different problems have been associated with this type of device. These include:

• Corrosion and wear, leaving metal particles in the body
• Dislocation
• Loosening of the device

These and other problems can lead to severe health issues including:

• Elevated levels of chromium and cobalt in the blood
• Nerve damage
• Implant instability leading to spontaneous dislocation
• Bone and tissue damage
• Severe inflammation and pain
• Infections

Some people with a metal-on-metal hip replacement device will have to undergo a second surgery to either correct a device malfunction or replace it entirely. This type of procedure not only carries its own risks, but can also be incredibly expensive.