Defective metal hip issues go back nearly 20 years and encompass a vast majority of manufacturers. Massive litigations against Johnson & Johnson (and subsidiary DePuy Synthes), Stryker Corp, Wright Medical, Zimmer Biomet, Sulzer AG, and Smith & Nephew have brought the issue of metal-on-metal joint replacement into the mainstream.

Often formed from cobalt and chromium, these hips are prone to corrosions and wear. They have been shown to have two serious complications, Taper lock failure, and metalosis. This can result in pain, loss of mobility, inflammation, dislocation, joint instability, broken bones around components, and chromium and cobalt toxicity/poisoning of the blood, which often requires replacement and revision surgeries.

Many of these products have been recalled and Multidistrict Litigations all across the country have found that manufacturers routinely failed to adequately test their products and warn the public about the dangers of having metal-on-metal hips implanted.

Settlements and Verdicts

To date, settlements and verdicts have resulted in more than $6.2 billion in damages for plaintiffs against DePuy to resolve metal hip injury claims. Stryker Corporation another $2.5 billion, Sulzer, more than $1 billion, Wight Medical $340 million, and Zimmer has paid more than $400 million to settle claims brought forth by injured parties, with many valid claims still pending in the courts.

Lawsuits continued to be filed on behalf of injured parties across the United States, with many now focusing on corrosion issues and new litigation arising from the faulty manufacturing of Smith & Nephew metal hips.

Links:

1. https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-johnson-johnson-settle-pinnacle-metal-hip-implant-20190507-story.html
2. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-feb-14-mn-25175-story.html
3. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-settlement/jj-us-states-settle-hip-implant-claims-for-120-million-idUSKCN1PG26K
4. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/billion-dollar-settlement-over-faulty-stryker-hip-implants/
5. https://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2011/12/28/will-flawed-all-metal-hip-replacements-cost-jj-and-zimmer-5-billion/#151066186fc1
6. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/business/the-high-cost-of-failing-artificial-hips.html?ref=business&pagewanted=print
7. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-biomet-settlement-idUSBREA1305Y20140204
8. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2016/11/02/885940/0/en/Wright-Medical-Group-N-V-Announces-Entry-Into-Metal-On-Metal-Hip-Litigation-Settlement-Agreement.html