Profemur Hip Device Lawsuits Help Victims Recover The Costs Of Revision Surgery

A hip replacement is an extensive and invasive procedure, but many patients are promised that the benefits are worth the drawbacks. Unfortunately for patients who received the Wright Profemur hip system, their artificial hip took them off their feet and back to the hospital after the neck of the device prematurely failed.

The Dangers of the Wright Profemur Hip Implant

Wright Medical manufactures many different hip replacement devices to correct fractures, osteoarthritis, trauma, and hip resurfacing. The Wright Profemur implant’s metal-on-metal neck stem was supposed to provide strength and stability in patients; however, the rates of device failure began to rise just a few years after it was approved by the FDA.

Failure of the Wright Profemur hip implant has led to a number of injuries, including:

• Loosening of the device. Device failures often result in additional surgeries, inpatient stays, increased medical costs, and longer recovery times.
• Acute fractures. Breaks in the hip bones can require surgery to remove bone fragments and replace the neck and stem of the components. If bone fragments travel throughout a patient’s body, they can cause neurovascular damage, hematoma, hemorrhage, or even death.
• Pain and swelling. Patients have suffered pain and swelling in the groin, hip, and leg, as well as soft tissue impingement as the device began to dislocate from its position.
• Difficulty walking. Patients who have received a Profemur hip device have been advised to seek medical attention immediately if they experience sudden pain or numbness in their leg. Failure to correct the problem can cause patients to develop a limp or have trouble walking that could become permanent.
• Metallosis. Metal-on-metal hip devices are known to shed microscopic particles of metal into the bloodstream as the components grind together. An excessive buildup of these particles can cause metallosis, or metal poisoning, which can damage the patient’s heart, lungs, nerves, brain, and thyroid and kidney function.

Wright Faces Legal Battles for Its Profemur Metal-on-Metal Hip Devices

Wright has been under fire for its defective Profemur hip devices ever since the implants were released. One device, the Profemur Neck Varus/Valgus CoCR, was the subject of a Class 1 recall by the FDA. This is the most serious recall classification for a medical device, meaning the FDA has determined that these metal hip implants pose a reasonable threat of causing serious injury or death.

In addition, several lawsuits are still pending against Wright for its Profemur Z implant, another metal-on-metal device. Several patients have claimed that the loosening of the device led to revision surgeries and extreme pain, as well as sudden failure of the device that led to emergency surgery and unnecessary suffering.

Wright has settled a number of lawsuits involving hip device failures. After a federal investigation uncovered evidence of bribing doctors to use its devices, Wright agreed to pay $7.9 million in fines in 2011. The company also settled two Profemur lawsuits in 2013 just before they were scheduled to go to trial, and was found responsible for $4.5 million in damages in 2015 to a victim injured by the Wright’s Profemur R device.

You Can Hold the Company Responsible for Your Suffering

If you or someone you love was harmed by a Profemur hip device, we can help you recover the funds you need for your lost wages, revision surgery, hospital stays, mobility devices, permanent injuries, and pain and suffering. The McGartland Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars in damages for patients who were injured by dangerous medical and consumer products, and we have the experience it takes to fight on your behalf. We also work on a contingency-fee basis, so you will owe us no legal fees unless we win your case. Call the number on this page to speak with one of our representatives today!