Wright ProFemur hip implants linked to increased risk of complications
Wright’s ProFemur hip implants have been linked to an increased rate of serious complications, including those that may result in the total failure of the device or revision surgery. Patients who underwent hip replacement surgery with Wright ProFemur implants and have developed complications caused by the defective design of this device may be eligible to file a lawsuit.
Wright’s ProFemur implants — known formally as the Wright ProFemur Total Hip System — are a metal-on-metal hip replacement, meaning that both the cup and the ball of the implant are made from metal. In the case of Wright ProFemur implants, both sections of the device are constructed using a titanium alloy.
Metal-on-metal implants have been associated with an increased risk of side effects compared to hip implants that are made with ceramic or plastic parts. However, because of a problem with the way that Wright’s ProFemur implants were designed, these devices in particular may be even more dangerous for patients who undergo hip replacement surgery.
Design Defects in Wright ProFemur Hip Implants
ProFemur hip implants have a unique design which uses two pieces in the femoral stem of the device. Although this design was intended to allow the device to be adjusted depending on the length of the patient’s leg, lawsuits filed against the company have alleged that the unique design of Wright ProFemur implants makes these devices more prone to failure and other complications than other hip replacements.
According to these lawsuits, the unique design of the ProFemur implants makes them more likely to develop corrosion, fretting, and fractures than other hip products. These defects may lead to other serious and painful complications, including problems walking or standing in place, severe pain, infections, the migration or loosening of the device, fractures at the site of the implant, or the dislocation of the device.
Because of this increased risk of complications, patients with Wright ProFemur implants are more likely to be forced to undergo revision surgery to repair problems with the device. A 2009 study shockingly found that 11% of patients with ProFemur hip replacements underwent additional surgeries because of problems that developed with these implants.
Lawsuits Filed Over Complications Involving Wright ProFemur Hip Implants
Hundreds of patients who have experienced problems with Wright ProFemur hip implants have filed lawsuits against the company in state courts across the U.S. Wright and MicroPort Orthopedics (which purchased Wright’s hip division in 2013) are also facing dozens of lawsuits involving ProFemur implants in federal court.
These lawsuits against Wright and MicroPort allege that the ProFemur hip implants were defectively designed, causing severe, painful complications and expensive medical treatments for hundreds of patients. The lawsuits also allege that the two device manufacturers knew about the risk of complications that could be associated with these devices, but failed to warn doctors and patients about the dangers associated with replacement surgery involving the ProFemur implants.
In the Winter of 2020, lawsuits involving ProFemur implants that were filed at the federal level in the U.S. were consolidated in a multi-district litigation (MDL) in Arkansas. The consolidation of these lawsuits before a single judge will help to streamline the discovery and litigation process for the dozens of federal lawsuits that have been filed by patients with complications from these devices, as well as additional federal cases that are expected to be filed involving ProFemur implants.
Free Legal Consultation for Patients with Complications from ProFemur Implants
If you or a loved one underwent hip replacement surgery involving Wright’s ProFemur hip implants and have experienced complications from the device, you may qualify to file a lawsuit and receive compensation. The first step in filing a claim is to talk with an experienced product liability attorney to learn more about your legal rights and find out whether you may be eligible to take legal action.
For more information filing a lawsuit over complications caused by ProFemur hip replacements and to learn more about whether you may qualify to file a claim, contact the lawyers at Hissey, Mulderig & Friend to schedule your free legal consultation. You can reach us by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or by filling out our free case evaluation form on the right side of this page.
After we receive your information, a member of our staff will contact you to schedule your free consultation with one of our attorneys.