Recent articles have revealed that half-million Americans may be experiencing metal hip replacement failures earlier than expected. According to the news, the Food and Drug Administration has recently released a report stating that the metal-on-metal hip implants available to American patients are not safe. The announcement follows multiple reports of patients suffering pain and swellings that in some severe cases led to the removal of the implants.
According to the federal agency, the metal-on-metal hip implant available to the nation’s patients is indeed less safe than the previous options. In Great Britain, patients with these implants are advised they must get yearly blood tests to check if dangerous metals are not making their way into their bloodstream, which could pose serious health threats. Although the safety of this device has been scrutinized by the federal agency, the FDA has not yet determined whether patients here should receive the same recommendations given out to patients in Britain.
In light of recent reports regarding the great number of metal-on-metal hip implants being replaced before the estimated time, the FDA is looking into this issue and should have more recommendations to consumers in the near future.
As a personal injury lawyer I find it terribly saddening to learn that so many people have experienced tremendous pain and discomfort because of potentially hazardous hip implants. Hopefully, the federal agency will develop better safety guidelines to companies that manufacture hip implants.
