Having constant hip pain that’s impacting your ability to enjoy your life is a difficult position for anyone to be in. For many individuals who are facing this situation, a hip replacement is one option that might help them to find relief. Unfortunately, some might find that they have new issues creep up after the surgery.
For some patients who had hip replacements prior to May 16, 2016, problems are being noticed because some of these hip implants were metal-on-metal. This was thought to be a long-term solution for the patient. As time progresses and the hip is used, the metal begins to shave off. This leaves shards of metal within the patient’s body that can lead to serious health problems.
Now, metal-on-metal hip implants aren’t approved in the United States. Instead, doctors can choose from four types of implants.
- Ceramic-on-metal
- Ceramic-on-polyethylene
- Ceramic-on-ceramic
- Metal-on-polyethylene
No matter what type of hip implant you have, there is a risk of things going wrong. Some of these can cause significant health challenges for you, and they may lead to long-lasting problems, such as:
- Infections at the incision, joint or with the surgical area
- Blood clots or excessive bleeding
- Anesthesia reactions
- Bone fractures
- Hip dislocation
- Implant loosening, breaking, becoming damaged
- Nerve damage causing weakness or numbness
- Pain, swelling, popping, grinding or clicking in the joint
If you have any issues stemming from a hip implant that can be attributed to negligence by either the doctor or manufacturer, you may opt to pursue a claim for compensation to help you recover the financial damages that occur because of the issue. These cases can be complex, so working with someone familiar with them is often beneficial.