Louisville Hip Replacement Lawsuit Attorney

Every year, more than 300,000 total hip replacements are performed in the United States. Hip replacement surgery can make a considerable improvement to someone’s quality of life; allowing for mobility and movement with limited or no pain or discomfort. However, sometimes hip replacements can actually cause problems in patients, resulting in severe pain, repeat surgeries, and an increased amount of stress to the patients involved. This can be due to defective hip implants, improper installation, or even gross negligence on the part of the surgeon.

If you’ve had hip replacement surgeries and have experienced problems, please contact the Louisville attorneys of Meinhart & Manning, PLLC for a free case evaluation. You may receive compensation for your damages.

Hip Replacement Statistics

2016 data from the American Joint Replacement Registry shows general statistics regarding hip replacement procedures – also known as hip arthoplasties.

  • The average age of hip replacement patients was roughly 67 years old; the average age of revision hip replacement patients was about 68 years old.
  • 79 percent of patients underwent hip replacement surgery due to osteoarthritis of the hip.
  • The predominant isolated cause for revision surgeries was mechanical complications, shortly followed by aseptic loosening and instability.
  • The vast majority of revision surgeries occurred less than 3 months from the initial hip replacement.

The following manufacturers are some of the most prominent companies producing artificial joints for hip replacements and other orthopedic implants:

Common Risks Associated with Hip Replacements

Although hip replacement procedures are done to reduce pain and improve mobility in people, there can be risks associated with the surgery and following rehabilitation.

  • Blood clots can be a common problem that develops in your leg veins following surgery. These are not only painful but can be serious if a clot breaks off and travels to one of your major organs, such as your heart, lungs, or even brain.
  • Infections can develop at the site of your surgery, and maybe deeper depending on the skill of your surgeon. While antibiotics are a common treatment, more serious infections may lead to further hospitalization and even surgery.
  • Fractures of healthy sections of your hip joint may occur during surgery. While these are generally small enough to heal on their own, larger breaks can result in more surgery to properly fix it – and presumably more rehab time and hospital costs.
  • Your new hip joint may frequently become dislocated in certain positions. Doctors usually fit you with a brace to correct this, but if it continues to happen, you may need to undergo more surgery to properly stabilize it.
  • Over time, your hip implant may loosen over time, which can cause pain and mobility problems. Often, surgery is needed to resolve this problem.

Patients may also encounter issues with the hip implants themselves:

  • Some hip implants may break or outright fail after being placed.
  • Metal-on-metal implants, such as those with modular stem and neck systems, have shown increased corrosion due to increased friction at the joints. This can cause a condition called metallosis, which can cause incredible pain, swelling, inflammation, and systemic metal toxicity.
  • Hip implants that were not properly sterilized may result in a systemic infection that can cause serious problems and require immediate surgery.

Although these risks are fairly uncommon, they may be increased in hip replacement surgeries due to the average age of those involved in these procedures. Typically, more elderly people are prone to more complications during and after a procedure.

Who is Liable for Hip Replacement Complications?

We typically undergo serious procedures to improve our health, but when they end up actually decreasing our quality of life, we want to find answers. If you suffered a serious complication during or after a hip replacement procedure, certain parties may be held liable for your health condition.

  • The surgeon in question, along with any other associated medical professionals, may be held liable for negligent actions that led to your complications, such as unintentional fractures during surgery, or improperly installed hip implants. Additionally, improper maintenance and dressing of the wound during surgery recovery may be the cause of improper medical care.
  • The hip implant manufacturer may be responsible if the implant itself failed or caused the complications. That includes those who produce metal-on-metal implants which lead to metallosis or any other breaks or failures that may occur. In these cases, the company may not only be liable for hospital costs, but also any additional revision surgeries, along with any rehab and lost wages, if applicable.

In each situation, a skilled and experienced attorney is highly recommended to help you receive compensation.

Seeking Hip Replacement Lawsuit or Settlement?

If you’ve experienced stress and suffering due to complications from a hip replacement surgery, contact the Louisville lawyers of Meinhart & Manning, PLLC. We can assist you in sorting out any options you may have to pursue compensation for your damages. We understand that it can be disheartening to have a surgery to fix a problem – and end up with a bigger problem.

Our compassionate attorneys will help you fight for the compensation you deserve for all the unneeded pain and stress that comes with negligent caregivers or product manufacturers. We have the experience and confidence to pursue maximum compensation with Kentucky’s biggest hospitals, corporations, and other companies liable for your hip replacement injury. Contact us today for a free consultation.