In 2006, Wright Medical introduced its Conserve hip device. In marketing the device, the company failed to warn patients and implant surgeons about its failure rate. The company advertised the Conserve hip as a more durable alternative to metal-on-polyethylene hip devices and claimed it would wear less over time. Unfortunately, studies have shown that Wright Medical’s marketing claims were untrue. The Conserve has an unusually high failure rate, due to metal ion wear and toxicity.
Wright Conserve hip replacements
The plaintiffs in a Wright Conserve hip replacement lawsuit have been claiming that their devices failed prematurely. The devices were introduced in 2003 and have since caused elevated levels of blood metals and spontaneous dislocation of the hip. These complications are often permanent and can lead to debilitating pain and disability. These cases are part of a larger class action suit against Wright Conserve. The Wright Conserve hip replacement lawsuit is the result of a large number of such failures.
Since 2012, the manufacturer of the Wright Conserve hip replacement implant has been the subject of numerous recalls and litigation. These recalls have led to over 1,200 lawsuits. This is a significant number, especially because the company sold off its hip replacement division and focuses on other areas of replacement. The company has also settled a class action lawsuit based on the design defects in the Conserve hip replacement.
Metal-on-metal design
A multidistrict litigation panel has transferred more than 8,000 metal-on-metal hip replacement lawsuits to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The case will be presided over by William J. Duffey, Jr. This is the third time the panel has consolidated cases involving metal-on-metal hip replacements. In the same way, similar claims have been raised against DePuy Orthopaedics and the DePuy ASR hip implant. Additionally, Biomet Magnum hip replacements and DePuy Pinnacle hip implants are also in the crosshairs of the consolidated lawsuits.
During the manufacturing process of the Wright Conserve hip implant, metal particles from the metal-on-metal design can accumulate in the patient’s body. Consequently, metal ions and metal toxicity can result in severe hip pain and even bone loss. Moreover, patients may have limited mobility due to metal toxicity and can require revision surgery. In such cases, patients may seek compensation to cover medical bills, pain, and suffering.
Marketing claims
In a recent lawsuit filed against Wright Medical, a former Utah ski instructor claimed that his Conserve hip replacement failed prematurely and required revision surgery. He chose the device after discussing it with his doctor and reading Wright’s marketing materials, which claimed that the Conserve would wear less than metal-on-polyethylene hip implants. But the company’s claims are unfounded and the Conserve has a high failure rate.
In one of the most famous cases involving the Wright Conserve Hip Replacement, the plaintiff claimed that she developed severe hip pain six years after the original surgery. The device was supposed to last for 15 to 20 years, but the plaintiff started experiencing painful hips six years after the original surgery. The surgeon who removed the implant discovered pieces of metal embedded in her soft tissue. She alleged that the revision surgery resulted in additional physical and emotional pain and financial loss.
Medical complications
You may be eligible to file medical complications of the Wright Conserve Hip Replacement lawsuit if you have experienced adverse effects from this device. A 510(k) application submitted by Wright Medical Technology in 2003 claimed that the Conserve hip was “substantially equivalent” to metal-on-metal hip implants. While these claims have been disproved, there is a good chance that a defective product lawsuit will follow.
In 2006, the Wright Conserve line was introduced. It was part of a new generation of metal-on-metal hip replacements. This device includes the “head” of the lower part, a socket, and a ball and cup. It was marketed toward younger patients. The company claimed that this would reduce wear and increase function, but studies have shown that this was simply not true. The Conserve’s high failure rate is due to metal ion wear and toxicity.
Class action lawsuits
The settlement in the class action lawsuit against Wright Conserve Hip Replacement is the latest step towards a reformed medical system. The company has agreed to settle nearly two-hundred and sixty-five lawsuits related to hip replacement, which were introduced to the market a decade ago. While Wright has not yet threatened bankruptcy, the company’s history of major mistakes is littered with huge payouts.
A class-action lawsuit filed in February 2011 is now being handled by a U.S. federal court in Georgia. These lawsuits focus on the supply chain and the design of hip replacements. The manufacturer of the hip replacements failed to ensure the quality of the parts used and subsequently caused injury to its intended users. Consequently, the company could be held liable for the injuries suffered by its intended users.