Biomet Metal on Metal Hip Implant Lawsuit

Medical device manufacturer Biomet grossed sales of $312.9 million in 2010 from hip implants.  Despite having 12% of the domestic hip implant market share, Biomet’s metal on metal hip implants have had their share of problems.

Two of the company’s products in particular have had the most problems: the M2a Magnum Hip Implant, and the Stanmore and Exceed ABT device with optional liner.

Despite mounting problems, the manufacturer has yet to issue a recall.

Adverse events on these devices include:

• Premature device failure
• Inflammation, pain, and swelling
• Metallosis, or the scuffing off of metal debris into the blood and surrounding tissue
• Loosening of the implant

Patients that have had complications have been tested and shown to have much higher levels of cobalt in their blood, which can lead to the following symptoms as well:

• Cardiomyopathy
• Nerve problems, including blindness and optic nerve damage
• Thickening of the blood
• Thyroid problems
• Headaches
• Sensory problems such as tinnitus

Cases against Biomet and its units have been consolidated into an MDL in the Northern District of Indiana.  In multi-district litigation, all common issues in these cases are centralized and decided by the same judge.  This leads to more consistent and expeditious rulings.

Allegations against Biomet include:

• Failure to exercise reasonable care in design, manufacture, and testing
• Misrepresentation that this implant was safer and more effective
• Failure to adequately warn of risks
• Failure to provide doctors and surgeons with adequate information on how to mitigate the risk of injuries

Have you or a loved one received a Biomet metal on metal hip implant?  If you have, you may be entitled to compensation by participating in a lawsuit.  Contact a defective device attorney at Kirkendall Dwyer LLP today.