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Hip Implant Failure Lawsuit | Get the Right Lawyer

Thousands of people with defective hip implant systems have experienced problems such as serious pain, swelling, loosening, and even dislocation of the implant.
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C.L. Mike Schmidt Published by C.L. Mike Schmidt

Free Hip Implant Failure Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been injured or required hip revision surgery because of a defective artificial hip device, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and a hip replacement lawyer can help.

Hip Failures on the Rise

Did you know that thousands of people with defective hip implant systems have experienced problems such as serious pain, swelling, loosening, and even dislocation of the implant? Unfortunately, numerous hip replacement systems have failed around the country.

Lawsuits currently being filed allege manufacturers may have designed a defective product, failed to warn patients and doctors of potential problems, and declared negligence in designing, manufacturing, and selling the products.

To date, thousands of hip lawsuits have been filed nationwide, and many more are expected in the near future. Many times, claims are not filed on behalf of victims unless other affected individuals come forward with their cases.

Prescription Drug Lawsuits

Which Hip Replacements Have Been Found to be Defective?

  • Johnson & Johnson hip replacement devices – ASR™ XL Acetabular System and the ASR™ Hip Resurfacing System – In August 2010, DePuy Orthopeadics issued a worldwide recall of these medical devices. The recall came after over 300 complaints were received describing device failure since 2008.
  • Wright Medical Hip Implant – Problems with this type of implant could cause failure in a very short period of time. Patients have required revision surgery.
  • Zimmer Durom Cup – Multiple surgeons around the country have reported a higher than expected rate of failure and loosening of the Zimmer Durom Cup, often requiring painful secondary surgery. In 2008, Zimmer suspended sales of this device.
  • Nephew Birmingham Hip Resurfacing System
  • Smith Nephew Metal on Metal Implants
  • And more

While all of these hip replacement devices have been reported to cause health problems for a variety of patients, not all of these hip replacement devices have been recalled. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received thousands of adverse event reports regarding hip medical devices. In particular, metal on metal hip implants impose the largest risks on patients. As a result, metal on metal hip replacements lawsuits are the most central aspect of hip litigation.

Visit our website to see which medical devices lawsuits our attorneys are currently taking.

Hip Replacement Recalls

Total Hip Replacement Surgery Litigation Status

Six companies have dominated the metal-on-metal hip market and been involved in the vast majority of lawsuits. In 2015, Zimmer acquired Biomet for $13.3 billion, giving Zimmer Biomet a major share of the $45 billion musculoskeletal implant industry. Wright Medical no longer makes hip implants. This leaves 4 companies with majority share of the U.S. market:

Depuy Orthopaedics

DePuy has settled thousands of hip replacement lawsuits over its faulty hip implants; however, the company still faces around 10,000 additional lawsuits over its Pinnacle device. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) combined the federal hip replacement lawsuits in 2 separate litigations. Settlements and jury verdicts in DePuy hip lawsuits total more than $6 billion.

  • Device: DePuy Pinnacle Hip Replacement
  • Number of Lawsuits: 10,176 filed, 9,893 still pending as of July 2019
  • Litigation Location: Northern District of Texas
  • Verdicts: March 2016 – $502 million (thrown out on appeal, retrial expected), December 2016 – $1 billion (reduced to $543 million), November 2017 – $247 million (reduced to $245 million)
  • Status of Lawsuits: Active and on appeal

Related Article: Defective DePuy Pinnacle Hip Replacement Lawsuit & Attorneys

  • Device: ASR Hip Replacements
  • Number of Hip Replacement Lawsuits: 10,237 filed, 1,434 still pending as of July 2019
  • Litigation Location: Northern District of Ohio
  • Settlements: 9,800 settled for $4.42 billion between 2013 and 2015
  • Status of Lawsuits: Settled but the MDL remains active

Related Article: Defective DePuy ASR™ Class Action Lawsuit & Attorneys

Smith & Nephew

The JPML consolidated the first Smith & Nephew lawsuits into a single litigation in 2017, and the cases are still in the early stages.

  • Devices: BHR and R3 Hip Implants
  • Number of Lawsuits: 609 filed, 587 still pending as of July 2019
  • Litigation Location: District of Maryland
  • Verdicts/Settlements: No verdicts or major settlements yet
  • Status of Lawsuits: Active, pre-trial stages

Stryker

Stryker is the manufacturer of the Rejuvenate hip implants. Both Stryker hip replacement devices were recalled in July 2012.

The recalls occurred after reports to the Food and Drug Administration of corrosion, fretting, and metal poisoning (metallosis) from the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II hip replacement systems. Many patients endured hip revision surgery due to faulty hip replacement devices.

Related Article: Stryker Hip Implant Attorneys & Lawsuit Info

As a result, there are numerous hip replacement lawsuits brought against Stryker. Many of these hip replacement lawsuits have been consolidated into Multi-County Litigation (MCL) in New Jersey as of January 2013.

  • Device: LFIT V40 Femoral Head
  • Number of Lawsuits: 677 filed, 662 pending as of April 2019
  • Litigation Location: District of Massachusetts
  • Verdicts/Settlements: Initial LFIT v40 femoral head settlement announced Nov. 2, 2018, details remained confidential
  • Status of Lawsuits: Currently in settlement phase

Related Article: Alaska Stryker LFIT V40 Hip Implant Attorneys & Lawsuit Info

  • Device: Rejuvenate and ABG II Hip Replacements
  • Number of Hip Replacement Lawsuits: 3,546 filed, 1,216 pending as of April 2019
  • Litigation Location: District of Minnesota
  • Settlement: $1.4 billion between 2014 and 2016
  • Status of Lawsuits: Settled but the MDL remains active
  • Device: Tritanium Acetabular Shells
  • Number of Hip Replacement Lawsuits: Unknown (firms are evaluating cases)
  • Litigation Location: To be determined
  • Settlement: None
  • Status of Lawsuits: Early phase

Choose our lawyers

Have you or a loved one suffered severe pain or injury from a defective medical device?

Zimmer

In March 2016, Zimmer offered to settle lawsuits over its hip devices for $314 million, according to court records. Two months later, a court ordered that everyone with a case in the MDL had to participate in the settlement process.

Related Article: Zimmer Hip Replacement Lawsuit & Attorneys

In November 2018, a federal district court combined 21 new lawsuits over other metal components into an MDL in New York. The new lawsuits involved models of the company’s M/L Taper Metal Hip used with Zimmer’s Versys Femoral Head.

  • Device: Durom Cup
  • Number of Lawsuits: 750 filed,516 still pending as of July 2019
  • Litigation Location: District of New Jersey
  • Settlement: $314 million to settle all cases
  • Status of Lawsuits: Settled but the multidistrict litigation remains active

Related Article: Zimmer Durom Acetabular Cup Lawsuit & Attorneys

  • Device: Zimmer M/L Taper Hip Prosthesis and Versys Femoral Head
  • Number of Lawsuits: 113 as of July 2019
  • Litigation Location: Southern District, New York
  • Settlement: None yet
  • Status of Lawsuits: Early stages of litigation, MDL created October 2018

Biomet

Biomet makes the M2a Magnum hip implant, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004. These metal-on-metal hips were hailed for use in younger individuals because Biomet claimed that the hip replacement device was durable and would last longer.

Biomet claimed the M2a Magnum hip replacement device would last at least 15 years. However, by 2011, the Food and Drug Administration had received over 100 reports of adverse events and M2a Magnum hip failure. All of these adverse event reports occurred within the first couple years of a patient’s hip replacement surgery. The FDA has yet to recall the Biomet M2a Magnum hip replacement system.

Biomet is battling numerous lawsuits for faulty M2a Magnum hip replacement devices. On top of individual lawsuits from American patients, Biomet recently fought claims by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Biomet was found guilty of bribing doctors in China, Brazil, and Argentina to use its hip replacement devices between 2000 and 2008. To settle the claims, Biomet paid $22.9 million in 2012.

  • Device: M2a Magnum Hip Replacement
  • Number of Lawsuits: 2,883 filed, 190 still pending as of July 2019
  • Litigation Location: Northern District of Indiana
  • Settlements: Estimated $89.4 million between 2013 and 2015
  • Status of Lawsuits: Settled but the multidistrict litigation remains active

Wright Medical

Wright Medical makes the CONSERVE Hip Replacement Systems. The manufacturer claimed that this product would allow for more durability and minimized the risk of dislocation for the hip replacement patient. However, Wright CONSERVE Plus Hip Replacement Systems have displayed a higher rate of failure than average.

The hip replacement device required revision surgery for roughly 8.36% of patients within the first 5 years of hip replacement surgery. The FDA has received over 200 reports of adverse events with the CONSERVE Plus Hip Replacement System.

Related Article: Wright Conserve Hip Lawsuit & Attorneys

Wright is currently battling hip replacement lawsuits for its faulty CONSERVE Plus hip devices, in addition to numerous lawsuits filed against Wright for its faulty PROFEMUR Z hip devices. During previous litigation, Wright has already paid $7.9 million in 2007 to settle allegations of bribing doctors to use their hip replacement devices.

  • Devices: Conserve, Dynasty and Lineage Replacements and Related Components
  • Number of Lawsuits: 640 filed, 73 still pending as of July 2019
  • Litigation Location: Northern District of Georgia
  • Settlements: $330 million between 2016 and 2017
  • Status of Lawsuits: Settled; court ordered no new lawsuits may be filed

Stryker Hip Replacement Lawsuits

Questions Your Attorney May Ask

What serious complications are you experiencing from your hip implant?

Patients usually experience relief from pain or increased mobility after recovering from their hip replacement surgery, but sometimes, serious complications may occur. Complications may range from dislocation and change in leg length to bone fractures and metallosis.

When did you first start experiencing hip replacement complications?

Complications of a hip replacement system can occur during surgery, immediately following the procedure or years later. Let your lawyer know when you first noticed complications.

When did you have your hip replaced?

Knowing when you had your hip replacement procedure could help your attorney determine whether you’re within the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit. The time limit for hip replacement cases varies depending on the state in which you live.

What company made your hip replacement device?

Lawsuits have been filed against DePuy, Stryker, Zimmer, Smith & Nephew, Biomet and Wright. You can contact the surgeon who performed your procedure if you don’t know who made your hip implant.

See the other defective medical device lawsuit cases our attorneys have covered.

Did you undergo revision surgery to treat your complications?

Revision surgery can be a riskier procedure than the original hip replacement surgery, but it may be needed if the patient’s hip replacement wore out or they experienced complications from it. Complications such as blood clots, dislocations, fractures and device loosening can occur as a result of revision surgery.

Hip Joint

Stryker Moves to Settle Rejuvenate, ABG II Hip Litigation

At least 95% of eligible patients have registered for a settlement program intended to resolve product liability lawsuits filed over hip joint injuries alleged from Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular-Neck hip stems. The company has indicated that it will soon begin making payments to eligible parties.

Smith Nephew

DePuy Hip Update 1/23/13:

Federal courts have revealed that a 2011 internal investigation conducted by Johnson & Johnson on its much-troubled DePuy ASR hip estimated that the device would fail within five years in nearly 40% of recipients.

For reasons still unclear, the company failed to make this information public while simultaneously downplaying the potential health complications associated with its metal-on-metal hip implant.

Hip Recall Update 7/10/12:

Michigan-based Stryker Orthopaedics is now recalling two brands of medical devices used in conjunction with artificial hips in hip revision surgeries. To date, the devices in question – the Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Modular-Neck Stem – have been linked to at least 45 adverse event reports (AERS) submitted to the FDA by individuals who claim to have suffered severe pain and/or tissue swelling.

Settle Hip Replacement MDL

Get a Free Hip Replacement Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Lawyers

The Defective Medical Device Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in hip implant failure lawsuits. We are handling individual hip implant litigation nationwide and currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.

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