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Broken implant stem...

Posted , 12 users are following.

glendabear
glendabear

I just found out that my implant stem has broken in half. After a week of pain i took myself to the ER....only to have the shock of my life. I did not fall or have ant type of impact to my leg. My THR is only 4.5 years old. Has anyone heard of the happening. Im heart broken and terrified...

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • chuck24117
    chuck24117 glendabear

    Posted

    Call a auttorney. That's terrible. There is no way these implants should break. I'm sorry for your pain.

  • stacy17516
    stacy17516 glendabear

    Posted

    Glendabear. Oh so sorry.  That must be so painful.  Never heard of  that, praying for you.  Keep us all posted.  Where do you live.  I am in Palm Springs ca. 5 weeks out and seeing a light at the end of the tunnel   Not a easy operation as stated . Stacy.  
  • glendabear
    glendabear

    Posted

    Thanks guys. Im in Alberta Canada. I did do some researching this morning i dont know my exact implant ..but i recall the brand being Zimmer. There was a huge malpractice suit BUT last claim had to be in before Sept 5/17. Sigh . Im just going in circles. Cant even phone my family Doc or Ortho surgeon until tomorrow. So my brain is running from bad to worse. Ohh and just in case anyone wanted to know. Im 42 years old.
  • t3chiman
    t3chiman glendabear

    Posted

    "...Has anyone heard of the happening...."

    Glenda-

      Sorry for the pain in your life. Absolutely a shocker, as you say.  As for why it broke: manufacturing defect, surgeon mistake, or patient overload. My guess is the first. The metals and plastics in our artificial joints, are, in the end, just manufactured devices, made by real-world human beings. Outright mechanical fractures are rare these days, the metallurgists having had their say years ago. But still, flawed pieces are made, and Quality Assurance doesn't catch all of them. You are one of the unlucky patients that got one of a bad batch of stems.

    You need revision THR, that's for sure. Probably best to pick a surgeon different from your original. But by all means consult an attorney specializing in civil suits against medical device manufacturers.

    Probably, medically, things will turn out fine.

    Hope this helps.

     

  • Tech78
    Tech78 glendabear

    Posted

    Hi, I’m in the UK and this happened to me 18 months after having my THR.  It resulted in a revision and a slightly larger stem being implanted.  I sought legal advice only to be thrown out by the hospital in question and told I was just ‘unlucky’.  Hope you have better luck! 
    • sarah22500
      sarah22500 Tech78

      Posted

      Hi Tech, I’m appalled this has happened. Aren’t these “stems” made of steel? How on earth can steel break? Bone yes, but steel? I’m so sorry.........

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen sarah22500

      Posted

      Dear Sarah

      Yes terrible. I think you will find the the stems are usually made of titanium. Could have been a defect in the composition of the metal or a defect such as a large cavity near the edge of the casting causing a weakness. Perhaps quality control should include an x ray of all stems during manufacturing.

      Cheers Richard

    • Tech78
      Tech78 RichardKen

      Posted

      The stem was custom made for me as my thigh bone is twisted so they had to make the implant with a curve in it.  I believe this weaken the material and they didn’t stress test the implant to ensure it could carry weight.  However proving this or getting anyone to admit liability is near on impossible. 
    • RichardKen
      RichardKen Tech78

      Posted

      Dear Tech

      Well golly, they were not very bright to not invisage the potential danger and to check it's structural integrity. Good luck with the revision!

      Cheers Richard

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy Tech78

      Posted

      Hi Sarah, if it were custom made even more reason that it should have not have broken. As you say they obviously did not do proper testing. 
  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK glendabear

    Posted

    How terrible, there's no way the stem should just break like that. 

    Get it fixed asap, then take legal advice.

    Best wishes

    Graham

  • Dsilk05
    Dsilk05 glendabear

    Posted

    Hi. I am so sorry. I have never heard of this and I am wishing you the best outcome. It just seems so unfair. smile

  • mike_NY
    mike_NY glendabear

    Posted

    glendabear, that sounds like a big law suit , if not the doctor then the maker of it! What are the plans forward ! I had a hip replacement Jan 9 th feb 13 , l sat on couch , for the prior 5 weeks l had been sitting  this time l heard a sound loud like a gear shift of a car!! I knew l was done , l slid to floor an screamed for 2 hours , till door could be opened then and hour an half at ER was pushed back after 3 try’s ! 9 months post nerve pain leg thigh etc . Painbuddy Mike
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