Faulty Hip Replacement Claims
There is always some risk with surgery
and the same is true of hip replacement. Hip replacement surgery
is mostly a routine operation that has helped millions of people
quite literally have a new lease of life.
However there are occasions when things
can go wrong and it is important that you have the best advice
from an experienced Clinical Negligence Solicitor.
Probably the most common complication of
hip replacement is that something goes wrong with the joint, and
this can occur in around 1 in 10 cases.
If there is a loosening of the joint
then you will experience on-going problems and need revision
surgery although not all patients are suitable for this.
This may be caused by the shaft of the
new replacement becoming loose in the hollow of the thigh bone
or due to thinning of the bone around the implant.
This problem may occur at any time, but
it is normally 10-15 years after the original surgery was
performed.
Hip dislocation sometimes happens in the
first few months of surgery in around 1 in 20 cases. The hip
joint can come out of its socket and you will need further
surgery to put it back in.
Wear and tear of the artificial sockets
can cause problems for people who have had hip replacement
surgery. Particles that have worn off the artificial joint
surfaces can be absorbed by surrounding tissue, causing redness
and swelling in and around the joint. You may be fine with
medication to stop the inflammation or you may need further
surgery.
Metal-on-metal implants have caused
problems with wearing sooner than expected. It is advised that
these metal- on-metal implants should be checked annually. You
should speak with your doctor for further advice if you are at
all worried about your hip replacement or if you are not sure
which type you have.
We advise you to contact one of our
Clinical Negligence Solicitors if you have been affected by a
faulty hip replacement. Our solicitors are experienced in
helping patients who have suffered due to a faulty hip
replacement; they will discuss your situation in confidence and
help you to decide how to move forward.
The latest metal-on-metal hip implant
advice for patients with a common type of metal hip implant is
that they need to have health checks every year for life.
The all metal replacements wear down
much quicker than other devices in some patients. There is a
risk of damage and deterioration in the bone and tissue around
the hip. Also there are concerns that traces of metal could leak
into the bloodstream and the annual medical checks will monitor
these problems.
In 2012, (MHRA) the Medicines and
Healthcare products Regulatory Agency issued new guidelines on
larger forms of "metal-on-metal" hip implants. The guidelines of
2010 were that patients should only have yearly health checks
for the first five years after surgery but now the agency says
the annual check-ups should be continued for the life of the
implant.
It is the view of some that there should
be tighter regulation of medical devices, similar with that of
medicines perhaps, which must undergo several years of
laboratory, animal and human testing before being approved for
wider use.
You should be aware of some of the
warning signs that there may be a problem with your implant and
patients with metal-on-metal implants
should make sure that they attend any follow-up appointments as
usual.
If you suffer from; pain in the groin,
hip or leg, swelling at or near the hip joint or a limp or
problems walking you should seek medical advice. These symptoms
do not necessarily mean that your implant is failing but it is
important to get things checked out.
You should also report any changes in
your health such as; chest pain or shortness of breath, numbness
or weakness, any changes in vision or hearing, fatigue, feeling
cold or weight gain.
The DePuy ASR hip replacements were
recalled by their manufacturer, DePuy, in 2010 because of high
failure rates. This company made three types of ASR implant.
Whilst all hip implants will wear down
over time, many people will not need their implant to be
replaced during the rest of their life time. Surgery to remove
or replace part of the implant is known as "revision" and, of
the 76,759 operations in 2010, around 7,852 were revision
surgeries.
Problems can occur with the metal on
metal hip replacements when there is friction on the surfaces
which can cause tiny metal particles to come away and enter the
space around the implant. Different people may have different
reactions to these particles, inflammation and discomfort may be
experienced. This can cause damage and deterioration in the bone
and tissue surrounding the implant and joint. This may cause the
implant to become loose and cause further pain, meaning that
surgery is needed.
After the PIP breast implant controversy
and the information on hip implants, there is a lot of attention
on the way medical devices are regulated in the UK and Europe,
patient groups and the media arguing that medical devices should
be regulated in a similar way to medicines.
The ASR metal on metal large head
implant was promoted to younger active people, giving the
impression that patients should return to a full and active
life. This particular product was intended to last longer that
current devices on the market.
Abnormal wearing of parts of the device
may cause problems for the patient. This can cause a reaction
with the surrounding tissue and muscles and even lead to the
main hip muscles being destroyed. If you suffer pain in the
groin, swelling, and clicking of the joint you may have problems
as a result of a faulty hip replacement. It is important that
you get advice from an experienced solicitors who deals with
medical accidents.
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