Knee and Hip Replacement Case | Revision Surgery Lawyer
Do I Have a Case Against the Manufacturer of my Hip or Knee Implant? If you are suffering due to a knee implant or hip implant that may be defective, you are probably wondering if you have a case against the medical device manufacturer of the implant. Ask yourself the following questions: Who Manufactured My Medical Device Implant? The first question that must be answered when you are trying to find out if you have a case is ‘what type of medical device implant do I have and who manufactured it?’ This is usually determined by reviewing the medical records of the surgery for the implantation of the knee, hip, or other medical device. These medical records can be obtained from your surgeon or the hospital to find out what device you had implanted. This is one of the initial steps in finding out if you have a case, and who the proper defendant may be. Has my hip or knee implant required a revision surgery? A revision surgery is a second surgery where the medical device implant is repaired or removed and replaced with another implant. The need for a revision surgery can be for several reasons, but one thing is certain: the hip or knee implant has failed. Hip implant failure or knee implant failure may be due to the patient’s high activity level, weight, or lifestyle. The device may have been implanted improperly, leading to the device loosening or failing to bond to the bone properly. Sometimes cement is used to attach the implant to the bone, and the cement might not form a proper bond to the component or to the healthy bone. These are all known risks associated with knee or hip implant surgery. However, device failure could also be due to a defective implant. If you or a loved one has had to undergo a revision surgery for your hip or knee implant less than 8 years after the device was initially implanted, please contact our law office immediately to speak to an experienced defective prosthetic joint lawyer or paralegal. Read More Have I been told that my hip or knee implant will need to be revised? If you have not undergone a revision surgery for your knee or hip implant, but your doctor has told you that you will need one in the future or that you are a candidate for one now, it may be because your implant is defective. If you or a loved one have been told that you will require or are an immediate candidate for a revision surgery for your hip or knee implant, and it has been less than 8 years after the device was initially implanted, please contact our office immediately to speak to an attorney. Has My Medical Device Implant Been the Subject of an FDA Recall? While some defects can lead to a hip implant recall or knee implant recall by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), researching your implant to see if an FDA hip implant recall or FDA knee implant recall has occurred is not the only way to tell if your hip or knee implant is defective. While FDA hip and knee implant recalls get significant attention, often times the manufacturer, not the FDA, will recall the devices. In other cases, a knee or hip implant is defective, yet has not yet been recalled by the FDA. Moreover, most people don’t know the manufacturer or model of their hip or knee implant. If you believe that your implant has been the subject of an FDA recall or a manufacturer recall, please contact our law office immediately to speak with our aggressive lawyers or paralegals. Do I have a painful implant, a “squeaky” hip or knee implant, is my range of motion limited? The first indication that your hip or knee implant may be defective is whether or not you are experiencing problems with the implant. Do you have hip pain or knee pain in the replaced joint? Clearly a painful implant after a joint replacement surgery is cause for concern and should be addressed with your doctor immediately. Is your range of motion significantly limited? Has your doctor discussed or recommended revising or replacing your hip or knee implant, or have you had your implant replaced? If so, please contact our office immediately to discuss your rights. Recently, patients have undergone a hip replacement operation using a ceramic hip implant have experienced something called, “squeaky hip.” This is caused by friction between the femoral and acetabular components (the ball and socket) of the hip implant. To see and hear an example of a squeaky hip, [click here–squeaky hip link to youtube]. If you or a loved one have an implant that is squeaking, please contact us immediately to discuss your rights. How Will My Defective Joint Case Be Handled? What can I expect? Anyone who is considering a lawsuit for a defective implant will likely wonder what is involved in prosecuting the case against the parties responsible for their defective medical device if your case is accepted. The attorneys at Keefe Bartels Clark will work with you every step of the way to determine if you have a case, and if so, to litigate it successfully on your behalf. There are many manufacturers of both hip implants and knee implants, including: Depuy (a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson) Smith & Nephew, Howmedica, (a subsidiary of Stryker Corp.), Biomet, Corin Medical, Exactech, Encore Orthopedics, Centerpulse (formerly Sulzer Medica) Wright Medical and Zimmer. Accordingly one of the first questions that must be answered when you are trying to find out if you have a case is: what type of medical device implant do I have, and who manufactured it? This is usually determined by reviewing the medical records of the surgery for the implantation of the knee, hip, or other medical device. If you think you may have a defective medical device implant case, contact our law office today. It should also be determined why your hip or knee implant device is failing, or why it failed. There are a variety of factors to consider before making this determination. For instance, how long did your knee or hip implant last? What are your doctors saying about the reason for failure? Is this a recalled medical device? If our law office accepts your defective joint case, we will attempt to obtain compensation against the manufacturer for pain and suffering, disability and loss of enjoyment of life, and any other damages the law may make available to you. |
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