Hip joint damage can happen to people of all ages, but often affects those who are middle aged or elderly. When this type of damage happens, patients may experience pain and decreased mobility. Some are given medication or walking aids to help them reclaim their lives. Many doctors, however, recommend hip implants and hip replacement surgery as solutions. Arthroplasty, also known as hip replacement surgery, replaces diseased or damaged hip joints with prosthetics. The idea is that these replacement prosthetics will make it easier for the patient to move around without pain.
According to the CDC, hip replacement surgeries are a very popular procedure, with about 332,000 full replacements done each year across the country. While most result in good outcomes, however, some result in complications, permanent injury, and even class-action lawsuits. If you have had hip surgery in Hollywood or South Florida and find that your mobility and pain levels are worse rather than better, you can always contact Flaxman Law Group for a free accident consultation.
What Can Go Wrong During Hip Replacement Surgery?
One of the most common things that can go wrong with arthroplasty is the failure of the prosthetic itself. For years, doctors used hip replacements made with plastic, ceramics, and metal. Then, a number of manufacturers introduced all-metal hip replacements. These were advertised as being more durable, but many patients experienced severe complications with these devices.
All-metal hip implants and replacements can cause metallosis, a painful condition where normal movement causes tiny shavings of metal to peel away from the device and embed itself in the soft tissue or enter the blood of the patient. This can cause inflammation, pain, reduced mobility, and hip replacement failure.
Whether you have a metal hip implant or a newer device, there are a number of errors and complications that can occur:
- Medication mix-ups and errors
- Medical malpractice
- Wrong site surgery
- Premature hip implant failure
- Pain
- Reduced mobility
- Hip fracture
- Anesthetic problems or errors
What Happens if There is a Problem with my Hip Replacement?
If you experience hip replacement failure or if your hip implant fails to perform as expected, you may have to undergo revision surgery to fix the problem. Unfortunately, the medical tests, doctors’ visits and surgical costs for this process can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. You may lose even more money if you have to take time away from work or need to get at-home help because of pain or reduced mobility.
If you suspect that something is wrong with your hip after your surgery, contact your doctor to ask for medical help immediately. If you suspect that your hip implant is faulty or if you think that medical recklessness may have caused your suffering, contact an attorney as well to review your options.
Should I Contact an Attorney?
If you have suffered an injury after a hip replacement or need revision surgery after a hip implant, consult with a local personal injury attorney as well as a doctor. The revision surgery process can be very expensive, and you deserve to know whether your injuries were preventable. If your injuries were caused by negligence, a Hollywood or Florida personal injury attorney can tell you whether you have a claim to help you recover some of the many costs you may face.
If you are ready to talk to an attorney now, the legal staff at Flaxman Law Group are standing by to offer a consultation so that you can ask questions and get answers – all with no initial charge and no obligation.