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Sulzer Hip Implant Recall
Sulzer Orthopedics, a major implant manufacturer, found that
their Inter-Op ‘acetabular shell’ is defective.
This particular hip implant is inserted into the acetabular,
or upper part of the hip. It is designed to bond with the
body’s natural bone. Sulzer discovered that an oily residue
was mistakenly left on the implant during the manufacturing
process. This residue prevents the shell from bonding with
bone, allowing the hip implants to break apart within the
body.
Symptoms of a faulty shell tend to vary based on how long
a patient has
had their implant. Within six weeks after surgery, a patient
may experience pain in the groin, buttock, or inner thigh.
They may also feel pain on rising from a seated position or
with walking. After the first six weeks, a patient may have
pain with weight bearing, requiring a crutch or a cane. Additionally,
a patient may not be able to exert pressure on an extended
leg.
Only Inter-Op shells that were produced after October of
1999, and some that were produced after June 1997, have been
recalled. Sulzer claims that 25,000 parts were found to be
defective. 17,500 of these were implanted. If your hip replacement
surgery fell between these dates, you may have received a
faulty shell.
If you are experiencing the above named symptoms (pain in
the groin, buttock, or inner thigh, pain when walking or rising
from a seated position) contact your doctor immediately. Ask
if you received a Sulzer Inter-Op shell during your hip replacement
surgery. If you have, ask to have x-rays taken to determine
if the pieces of your device have moved. If your surgery took
place over three months ago, ask for a Lauenstein lateral
x-ray, since a head-on x-ray may not adequately indicate the
movement of your device.
If, after a proper medical evaluation, it is determined that
you are suffering from an injury related to a defective Inter-Op
shell, you may have the right to legal compensation. If the
faulty shells have affected you or someone you know, you may
be able to file a claim against the device’s manufacturer.
Those who have been harmed by the shells should participate
in these lawsuits so that Sulzer Orthopedics will be held
liable for marketing a defective product.
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