There are many problems that can appear after having hip replacement surgery. If you are experiencing these types of problems, you may want to consult a personal injury attorney who specializes in obtaining compensation for personal injury.
Loosening of the prosthesis from the bone is the most important long-term problem.
How long the bond will last depends on a number of factors:
1) How competently was the the surgery done. This is by far the most important factor. Choose a surgeon who has had a great deal of experience with hip replacement, and preferably one who restricts his practice to joint replacement surgery.
2) The quality of the prosthesis used. Have there been recalls issued on the replacement joint? You will need to find out the type of replacement hip you have and what year it was produced. Companies like Depuy and Zimmer have had recalls issued for specific prosthesis used in specific years.
3) How healthy and dense are your bones? The harder your bones are, the better the bond will be, and the longer the replacement will last. Osteoporosis is a factor of age, as well as the type of arthritis you have. People with rheumatoid arthritis have more complications because of their especially soft bones.
4) How active you are. Excessive force on the implant can cause the bond to loosen, and may be grounds for compensation for personal injury.
5) Your weight and the effect of it on the replacement hip. For every pound you gain, you add three pounds of equivalent weight on the hip.
6) Whether or not the implant is cemented. Currently, most surgeons believe that the uncemented implants will last longer than cemented ones. If you are not sure, and you are experiencing pain with your hip replacement, you should ask your surgeon about the type of hip used and whether or not it was cemented.
7) The design of the hip implant can be the basis of a hip replacement recall. Problems such as small abrasion particles from the implant may play a role in implant loosening. Plastic surfaces shed more particles than metal or ceramic ones. If you are experiencing pain as a result of these issues, you may want to consult an attorney like Kip Scott to determine if you can receive compensation for any personal injury you may have suffered.
8) Fracture of the femur bone can occur during hip replacement. This can be a small crack or a major fracture. It is more of a problem when a second revision hip surgery has to be done. The femur may be accidentally perforated during an initial surgery, or during a revision hip surgery. It can also fracture later from any type of accident, such as falling down stairs, or tripping over a crack in the sidewalk. Small cracks can sometimes be treated with “circlage” wires (small wires that “shore up” the surrounding bone).
If you have had any problems with a joint replacement, contact Kip Scott of the Personal Injury Law Center in Irvine for a consultation regarding compensation for personal injury.
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