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Product Liability Attorneys - Medical Implants

COMPOSIX HERNIA PATCH INJURIES - Accepting cases on patches implanted from 2000 to 2006

Bard/Davol’s Composix Kugel patch has recently expanded the number of product numbers and lot numbers recalled for breakage of its Memory Recoil Ring, pieces of which can migrate within the abdominal cavity and perforate organs.

Product Liability Attorneys – Medical Implants

Ball joint fractures caused by zirconia ceramic femoral heads

Breaking News: FDA announces in September 2001, that eight U.S. firms that make hip implants are, or will be, voluntarily recalling certain of their hip implants due to a potential problem with a component.

The component that connects the femoral stem to the pelvis, the zirconia ceramic femoral head, was recalled by its French manufacturer Saint Gobain Advanced Ceramics Desmarquest in August, because it was fracturing at a higher rate than expected. Saint Gobain Advanced Ceramics Desmarquest distributes zirconia and alumina ceramic femoral heads worldwide to most of the orthopedic industry. For more information: www.fda.gov

Not all patients with all types of implants will experience fractures. About 150,000 to 200,000 hip prostheses are implanted into U.S. patients each year, and it is estimated that less than 6% of these may be affected.

Signs of fracture
Fracture of implants is usually preceded by an audible "pop" from the hip just before the onset of a sudden pain. Some patients may experience fractures as late as 13 to 27 months after being implanted. Replacement surgery will be necessary, if a fracture of the zirconia ceramic femoral head, the ball portion of the hip prosthesis, occurs. If you have any concerns about hip or other joint implants, please contact us.

U.S. companies recalling St. Gobain Desmarquest components:

  • Apex Surgical, LLC
  • Biomet, Inc.
  • DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
  • Encore Orthopedics, Inc.
  • Osteoimplant Technology Inc.
  • Smith & Nephew, Inc.
  • Stryker Howmedica Osteonics
  • Zimmer, Inc.

Sulzer Hip Implants - Loosening of acetabular shells
Sulzer Orthopedics, a subsidiary of Sulzer Medica, has voluntarily recalled certain lot numbers of its Inter-Op acetabular shells for hip implants in December 2000. The Swiss manufacturer received reports of some incidences where post-operative loosening of the shells occurred. Further testing revealed, that a lubricant residue used in the manufacturing process causes improper bonding of the hip implant with the patient's bone.

In order to determine, if the hip shell you received is covered by the recall, please ask your surgeon to retrieve the specific lot number used in your hip replacement surgery from your medical records, and contact us for further assistance.

EXAMPLES OF RECALLED LOT NUMBERS:

Shell Product Catalog Numbers Beginning Lot
Numbers		 Ending Lot
Numbers
Hemispherical 4360-00-039
through
4360-00-065		 137848 1456372
Rim Flare 4361-00-039
through
4361-00-071		 1398234 1465247
Revision 4362-00-04 3
through
4362-00-081		 1397531 1465242
Protusio 4363-00-053
through
4363-00-081		 1403576 1453540

Please note, that this list is constantly updated, as further lot numbers are added by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For detailed information, please click.

Recalled Sulzer hip implants may cause the following symptoms:

  • Pain in the inner thigh or groin
  • Pain when arising from a seated position
  • Pain while standing and bearing weight

Sulzer Orthopedics has admitted that the company's medical device is flawed and has agreed to reimburse patients for medical expenses related to replacing the recalled hip implant. The manufacturer is attempting to limit reimbursements to cases where medical expenses are not covered by the patient's medical insurance or by Medicare.

In most states, product liability extends further, and Miller & Associates will evaluate the merits of your case to recover additional compensation. Patients who received the Sulzer devices are often entitled to:

Original estimates of approximately 17,500 patients who are affected by the recall, have been revised, and it is likely that he number will be substantially higher.

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