Wright Medical Hip Replacement Lawsuits

If you are one of the many Americans who has experienced serious complications after receiving a Wright Medical Technology Conserve Plus or Profemur Z hip implant to regain the mobility and quality of life you once enjoyed, you should contact an attorney who is experienced in defective hip implant lawsuits. You may be eligible for substantial compensation.

Wright Medical Technology, headquartered in Arlington, Tenn., has been designing, manufacturing and marketing joint implants since the 1950’s and controls about 2 % of the U.S. hip and knee market. Wright’s hip replacement systems are typically comprised of 3 separate components that are joined together during surgery:

1. A Cup – attached to the pelvis.
2. A Femoral Head – a ball that attaches to the top of the femoral stem
3. A Femoral Stem – the part that gets implanted into the patient’s thigh bone

Wright Medical Technology’s CONSERVE PLUS line of metal on metal (MoM) hip systems and its Profemur Z Stem have caused a number of complications in patients who have received these implants. The reported problems with MoM hip replacements are most often associated with wear and tear on the hip.

The Trouble With Wright Medical Technology’s Conserver Plus Line and Its Profemur Z Stem

The neck portion of the Profemur Z is under scrutiny because it is known to fracture and fail without warning causing the need for emergency revision surgery. An Australian study, which compared Wright’s MoM hip implant to the more traditional metal on plastic hip implants, found that the after 5 years, the revision rate for the Wright MoM hip implant was over 11%, which is dramatically higher than the revision rate for the more traditional metal on plastic hip implants.

Nevertheless, the biggest problem with Wright’s MoM hip replacements, like most other MoM hip replacement systems, is the release of particles of metal into the tissue surrounding the implant and into the bloodstream, which has been linked to increased levels of cancers, heart problems, and thyroid problems.

The femoral head of the Wright Medical Technology’s Conserve hip system, along with the cup into which it fits, is made of a metal alloy. When these two metal surfaces rub together, they can shed metal shards into the hip joint, the surrounding area, and into the bloodstream. This, in turn, can cause metallosis (metal poisoning) which can lead to tissue necrosis (death) and other serious complications throughout your body.

Lawsuits allege that Wright Medical knew (or should have known) that the metal components of its CONSERVE line of metal hip implants and its Profemur Z Stem might present an unreasonably high risk of metallosis, fracture, and failure when they began to market these systems to the public.

What You Should Do If You Experiencing Complications With a Wright Medical Hip Implant

If you have received a Wright Medical hip implant and are experiencing any fluid build-up, swelling, or inflammation in your hip joint, you should get tested to determine the level of metal ions in your blood.

A Metal Artifact Reduction Sequence or “MARS” MRI test can be performed to determine if there has been and tissue damage. MARS MRI tests can also reveal any pseudo-tumors or fluid accumulation, which may cause “metallosis” or a reaction to excess metal ions in your blood.

You should also contact an attorney who specializes in defective hip implant lawsuits for a free evaluation. They can help you determine exactly what device you received and advise you of your legal options. The amount of time you have to file a lawsuit is strictly limited by law. Therefore, it is important that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible.