News & Resources

In May of 2012, Health Canada issued a safety advisory warning to Canadian orthopedic surgeons regarding metal-on-metal hip implants.   The purpose of the advisory was to boost awareness in that country about significant health problems being reported in patients with metal-on-metal hip implants.    Types health problems cited in the advisory include: pain in the groin, hip or leg; swelling at or near the hip joint; a limp or change in walking ability; limited range of motion; and implant loosening.   The safety advisory recommended that all patients with metal-on-metal hip implants consult with their doctors annually for a minimum of five years.

The new Canadian safety warning does not come as a surprise to those in the United States and elsewhere.  Health regulators in the U.K. urged citizens in that country to undergo annual examinations for as long as they have a metal-on-metal hip in place.  Here in the U.S., the FDA announced that it would convene an advisory committee in June 2012 regarding the safety of metal-on-metal hip implants.  Studies have shown that metal-on-metal hip implants wear down quickly and generate metallic debris. Such debris can cause pain, inflammation, swelling, tissue damage around the joint, and bone destruction in some patients.   Studies have also shown that metal-on-metal hip implants are more likely than other types of hips to need revision surgery within a short period of time.

Of course, the real victims are the patients suffering from ailments caused by the very devices implanted to assist them.   If you aren’t sure if you have a metal-on-metal hip implant, you can contact your orthopedic surgeon, the hospital where the surgery took place, or our law firm can provide you with a release form so that we may obtain the brand name and model number of the hip implant you received. 

Alley, Clark & Greiwe for important information regarding your legal rights.