Osteolysis Due To A Surgery. Were you diagnosed with osteolysis due to hip or knee replacement surgery? Osteolysis is a disease that can occur when particles – microscopic shards of metal, ceramic or plastic – wear away from the implant and trigger an autoimmune reaction which causes the re-absorption of living bone tissue. Osteolysis may cause holes to form in bones, resulting in severe bone weakness. This can cause implants to loosen, and even broken bones. People who develop ‘osteolysis’ from hip or knee implants usually require revision surgery.If you developed osteolysis following hip or knee replacement surgery, you may have valuable legal rights. Our ‘osteolysis’ lawyers are offering free legal consultations to any recipient of an artificial hip or knee who has been diagnosed with this disorder. To learn how we can help you, please contact our ‘osteolysis’ lawyers today.
Osteolysis Associated with Hip or Knee Implants
Osteolysis causes bone to wear and become thin. It most often occurs in the bones of the hip, leg, rib, spine, and thigh. Cancer, cancer metastasis, and joint inflammation from conditions like psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis can also cause ‘osteolysis’. But ‘osteolysis’ is also a common complication that follows hip or knee replacement surgery.
When particles from an artificial hip or knee make it into your blood stream, they may trigger an immune system reaction. This reaction can start an inflammatory process known as osteolysis that can result in bone loss. The incidence of ‘osteolysis’ varies from less than 1% to as high as 10% in some types of joint replacement. Pain, swelling, and loosening of the implant are the most common symptoms seen in people with this type of ‘osteolysis’.
Osteolysis can occur with any type of hip implant. But over the past several years, the makers of metal-on-metal hip implants, such as the DePuy ASR hip implant and the DePuy Pinnacle hip implant, have claimed that these devices are associated with less ‘osteolysis’ than metal-on-polyethylene implants. However, a 2010 study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found that this may not be the case. The authors of that study wrote that their findings “suggest there may be frequent, unappreciated femoral bone loss and local immunological response in patients with second-generation metal-on-metal hip implants.” The extent of ‘osteolysis’ seen in the metal-on-metal hip implant study “was similar to that with metal-on-polyethylene articulations,” they wrote.
In total knee replacement, tiny shards of the bone and debris from the backside of the implant can lead to ‘osteolysis’. Normal use of a total knee replacement can cause wear of the polyethylene tibial and patellar components. If enough particles are generated, they can cause inflammation and eventually ‘osteolysis’. Over time the implant can come loose or the bone can fracture.
Legal Help for Victims of Osteolysis
If you developed osteolysis because of a hip implant or total knee replacement, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. To discuss your case with an experienced osteolysis lawyer, please fill out our online form, or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529) today.
