Biomet M2A Magnum Hip Implant Attorneys Serving Nationwide

Ennis & Ennis is currently representing individuals across the country that have Biomet metal-on-metal hip implants and were injured as a result of being implanted with this device.

The Biomet M2A-Magnum Hip is a metal-on-metal hip replacement system that has been implanted in patients throughout the United States. Reported problems suggest that the Biomet M2A Magnum metal-on-metal hip implant may be prone to fail within a few years of surgery.

A large number of patients who were implanted with the Biomet Magnum hip implant have also reported loosening, dislocation, wear, or failure of the implant due to the design of the device.

According to allegations raised in Biomet M2A Magnum hip lawsuits, these problems were known by the device manufacturer, yet they continued to market the implant as safe and effective. Rather than issuing a Biomet Magnum hip replacement recall, the system was aggressively marketed as having advantages over other hip systems.

Biomet M2 a Metal-On-Metal Hip Implants Problems and Recall

In September 2001, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed the public that Biomet and seven other firms that manufacture medical devices in the United States conducted a recall of their hip implants.

Problems were found on a component of the hip implant that could fracture, resulting in the need for another surgical replacement. The component that was found defective was the femoral head of the hip implant that was made of zirconia ceramic. This is the ball portion of the synthetic hips that are used in surgeries for hip replacements.

St. Gobain Desmarquest of France was the distributor of this defective femoral head. This femoral head was contained in all products for Biomet hip replacements and seven other manufacturers of medical products, including DePuy Orthopedics Inc., Zimmer Inc., Smith & Nephew Inc., Apex Surgical LLC, Osteoimplant Technology Inc., Stryker Howmedica Osteonics, and Encore Orthopedics Inc.

The recall was issued for all the hip implants with defective components from all manufacturers and applies to those that were made after January of 1998.

Metal-On-Metal Hip Metallosis

One of the complications that patients with a defective Biomet Magnum metal-on-metal hip implant may face is metallosis, a condition in which metal particles build up in the tissue around the implanted joint.

While typical hip implants consist of components made of metal and plastic, the Biomet Magnum has three all-metal components: a metal femoral head, metal taper insert, and metal acetabular cup. As the metal parts rub against each other, microscopic shavings of metal may be released into the hip joint, which could cause inflammation, loosening, and other problems associated with metal hip poisoning.

Symptoms of metallosis include:

• Pain around the hip joint

• Difficulty walking

• Swelling around the implant area

• Rash (a sign of dying tissue)

• Need for additional hip revision surgery

Those symptoms may also indicate these severe problems:

• Loosening. When the implant does not stay attached to the bone in the right position.

• Fracture. Where the bone around the implant may have broken.

• Dislocation.

• Damage to the nerves, tissues, and muscles near the implant area.

Many patients have experienced flu-like symptoms, including lethargy, headaches, aching joints, and a feeling of malaise.