The Olinde Law Firm is accepting clients who have sustained injuries after procedures in which bone cement was used. Patients have reported serious injuries and conditions after joint replacement surgeries using polymethyl methacrylate (bone cement) or HVC (high viscosity cement) to attach the replacement joints to the patient’s bones. Our bone cement lawyers are working to secure compensation for victims who sustained injuries and losses because of this defective medical product.

How is Bone Cement Used in Joint Replacement?

When a person has surgery to replace a shoulder, knee, hip, or elbow, bone cement is used to anchor the artificial joints to the remaining bones. The procedure is less invasive because it does not require pins and screws that could damage the bone. A medical provider must carefully mix the powder-like ingredients with liquid to create the cement. The bone cement is inserted into the joint and hardens to hold the artificial joint in place.

However, some patients experienced serious side effects, including BCIS (bone cement implantation syndrome). Pulmonary embolism, hypoxia, and other serious conditions have been reported as a result of BCIS. Other side effects associated with bone cement include low blood pressure, cardiac arrest, loosening of the implant components, fragmentation, loss of consciousness, and death.

In some cases, patients needed revision surgery because of bone cement failure. Patients reported:

  • Chronic pain
  • Debonding and loosening of the implant
  • Decrease in range of motion
  • Implant instability
  • Unusual swelling around the joint

What is the Risk of Developing Complications from the Use of Bone Cement?

A report published in the British Medical Journal in 2014 found that 41 people died after procedures using bone cement from 2005 through 2012 in Wales and England. The report found 62 adverse events related to BCIS. Researchers estimated that approximately one in 3,000 patients who were treated with bone cement surgery died or suffered cardiac arrest.

Another study published in The Journal of Arthroplasty in 2018 noted a connection between the use of HVC and serious side effects and complications. Some surgeons prefer HVC because it is a thicker form of bone cement, so it reduces surgery time by setting faster than other types of bone cement.

Several forms of bone cement are currently under investigation regarding complications and serious side effects.

What Can I Do If I Am Worried or Experiencing Complications After Joint Replacement Surgery?

If you are experiencing complications or side effects after joint replacement surgery, you should seek your doctor immediately to report the symptoms. As stated above, some side effects and complications of bone cement use can be life-threatening. You should keep careful notes of everything your doctor tells you regarding your surgery and the use of bone cement.

Once your condition is stable, you need to consult with a bone cement lawsuit attorney. Patients are filing lawsuits against several bone cement manufacturers for damages and injuries caused by the bone cement. Several companies manufacture bone cement. Our attorneys are researching all companies and closely following the developments in each case. The allegations in the lawsuits depend on the product’s manufacturer and the circumstances related to the joint replacement.

Contact Our Bone Cement Lawsuit Attorneys Now

Call Attorney Fred Olinde of The Olinde Firm at (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to schedule a no-obligation, free consultation with a New Orleans bone cement lawsuit attorney.

You might be entitled to substantial compensation if a defective medical product caused your injury.