Metal-on-metal hip replacements have recently been associated with serious side effects, including a significantly higher rate of failure compared to other hip implants. The metal-on-metal design may also leak toxic chemicals into the body, increasing a person’s risk of metal poisoning and hip implant failure.
High profile litigation and verdicts include the DePuy ASR recall and settlement, the DePuy Pinnacle Hip trial awarding five victims almost $500 million dollars, and the Biomet Magnum and M2a hip replacements.
It is estimated that 500,000 people have received all-metal hip replacements. One problem related to metal hip implants is that the devices are more prone to fail than implants made of an alternate material after only a few years. This failure results in the patient having to endure revision surgery on the hip. In addition, over time, metal-on-metal hip implants release tiny metal ion particles that cause the bone, tendons, ligaments and muscles around the hip to become inflamed, resulting in the loss of tissue and bone inside the hip joint. The metal particles find their way into the blood stream as well, and may result in heavy metal blood poisoning.