Can Hip Implants Really Cause Metal Poisoning?

If you have received a metal-on-metal hip implant, you could be at risk of developing a severe condition known as metallosis. This illness occurs when tiny pieces of metal break off of the implant and enter the surrounding tissues and bloodstream. When this happens, the damage can be catastrophic. This includes severe tissue damage as well as the death of cells that make up nerves, tendons, muscles and bones.

How Could This Happen?

Thousands of metal-on-metal hip implant recipients are suing the manufacturers of the device they received, claiming that a defect in the device led to them developing metallosis.

When this type of implant fails, the microscopic pieces of debris can lead not only to a severe reaction in the body, but also a loosening of the device that can cause bone erosion. In many instances, these metallic particles enter the bloodstream, get filtered out by the kidney, and then eliminated through urine. However, often the concentration of these metal ions is so high that it can lead to tissue damage and other medical complications. This damage can occur as a result of either the toxicity of the metal or by the body’s reaction in trying to eliminate the debris.

Metallosis can be devastating, not just physically, but financially as well. Treating it and other hip implant issues caused by it can result in astronomically high medical bills. If you or someone close to you has developed metallosis due to a defective metal-on-metal hip implant device, you may be able to take legal action in an effort to hold the manufacturer accountable.