Prosthetic Implants

Prosthetic limbs and joints are quite frequently used to help an individual who has damaged parts of their body. Whether the injury occurred over time as a natural part of wear and tear on the body, or whether a injury is the reason, prosthesis technology is more commonplace in today's society than previously. Especially when it comes to knee and hip replacements, which are by far the most common prostetic implants in individuals on average.

Hip and knee replacements are among the most common surgical procedures in all of orthopedic surgery. The procedure involves replacing damaged or deteriorated joints with artificial replacements, which include parts made of high molecular weight polyethylene, similar to pliable plastic. Most patients who undergo a hip or knee replacement gain improved agility, flexibility, and reduced pain; however, several prosthetic implants that have been sterilized in polyethylene have required additional surgical procedures.

Several companies use a technique known as gamma irradiation in air to sterilize the hip and knee prostheses. This sterilization process has caused the polyethylene part of the devices, once implanted in the body, to break into small pieces which then can lodge into the patient's hip or knee joint. In the body's fight to rid itself of those pieces, the immune system can also attack the patient's healthy bone, causing it to decay, a condition known as osteolysis. Usually additional knee or hip prosthesis replacements will be required and more surgical procedures must occur.

Several of the following manufacturers are under investigation for faulty hip and knee implants that were manufactured in the early 1990s:

. Depuy

. Howmedica Osteonics Corp.

. Howmedica, Inc.

. Osteonics Corp.

. Zimmer

. Biomet

A detailed evaluation of an individual's medical records is one way to determine compensatory and physical damages incured for patients of knee or hip replacement with prostheses.

However, for those who have been involved in knee or hip replacement, the possibility to develop a hip or knee replacement lawsuit is available. In which case, if you are eligible, it is advisable to contact an experienced knee and hip prosthesis law firm to learn about the legal details involved with developing a case. The victim, or plaintiff, may have the possibility to develop a medical lawsuit to seek compensatory damages for pain and suffering as well as overall medical bills.

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