Sulzer Hip Recall Attorney

Since January 2001, when Sulzer Orthopedics recalled certain lots of its Inter-Op acetabular shells, thousands of patients have undergone surgery to replace defective Sulzer replacement hips, and hundreds of legal cases against the company are still pending. Sulzer Orthopedics, now Centerpulse Orthopedics Inc., was then a subsidiary of Sulzer Medica.

The inter-op acetabular shell is a socket-like component of a hip replacement system. It was designed to bond with the natural bone of the pelvis and receive a ball-like device that is inserted into the thigh bone (femur). A manufacturing defect, however, prevented some of these shells from bonding with the bone, prompting Sulzers recall. The post operative loosening of some of the shells was apparently due to a reaction of the body to a slight residue of lubricant used in the manufacturing process.

About 26,000 of the approximately 40,000 units of the Inter-Op shells that were recalled had already been implanted in patients. And for a variety of reasons, not all of these patients have undergone revision surgery. Revision surgery consists of the replacement of the defective implant with a new one.

Sulzer Orthopedics has recommended that surgeons who implanted components from the recalled lots contact their patients. In any case, patients who have received the Sulzer Inter-Op shells should be aware of any potentially related symptoms.

Patients who are considering or have already initiated legal action should also be aware that in October 2003, a district court judge ruled that certain contingent fee contracts between Sulzer Hip Class Members and their attorneys contained unenforceable contingency fee provisions. The judge further ordered that ...any attorney who has obtained contingent fees pursuant to such a contract shall return those fees to the plaintiff class member."

Regardless of whether you currently have a defective Inter-Op shell, have received revision surgery, or are a loved one of someone affected by the Sulzer prosthetic, you may be entitled to benefits of a class action settlement, or you may choose to pursue a legal remedy independently. To know your legal options, contact a defective medical product attorney today.

See also:

Hip injury
Zimmer hip recall
Stryker hip recall