
Lawsuit Filed Against Wright Medical Technology Over Profemur Hip Implant
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Phoenix, Arizona—An Arizona woman has filed a defective product lawsuit against the manufacturer of the Wright Profemur hip implant system. Virginia M. Welch of Mesa, Arizona claims that her Wright hip replacement device failed and required removal within about three years of its implantation.
The lawsuit was filed by attorneys Paul D. Friedman and Jonathan V. O'Steen of O’Steen & Harrison, PLC of Phoenix. The case is presently pending in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona (Welch v. Wright Medical Technology, Inc., 2:11-cv-02113).
Friedman says that hip implants should last for at least fifteen years. "According to 2009 data reported by the Australian Orthopaedic Association, however, Wright Profemur stems demonstrated an 11.2% failure rate at three years following the surgery to implant them," Friedman added. "This means more than one in every nine patients who received the Wright implants experienced serious problems within only a few years of their hip replacement surgery."
The complaint states that Ms. Welch received her Wright Profemur Z implant surgery in February 2006. After experiencing considerable pain in her affected right hip, medical evaluations revealed a loosened acetabular cup, which appeared in x-rays to have rotated about 90 degrees from its original position.
According to Friedman, "The Wright implant was defectively designed and manufactured, and the company failed to adequately warn consumers of potential defects and risks associated with it. The result is that some patients suffered needless pain and injury, and will require revision surgeries to replace the defective implants." Ms. Wright underwent a removal surgery in November 2009.
Jonathan O’Steen, Friedman’s law partner, noted that the Wright Profemur Total Hip System was approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under its expedited 510(K) protocols for medical devices that are substantially equivalent to devices already on the market. "510(K) approvals do not require human clinical trials," O’Steen added, "so problems often go undetected until a product has been on the market for an extended time."
Friedman says that his lawsuit requests unspecified damages on behalf of Ms. Welch.
About O’Steen & Harrison, PLC
O’Steen & Harrison, PLC has protected the rights of injured accident victims and their family members since 1974. The firm concentrates on personal injury, medical malpractice and dangerous products with a special emphasis on harmful drugs and defective medical devices. O’Steen & Harrison is av-rated (the highest rating) by the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. The firm’s attorneys have recovered more than $3 billion dollars for clients. O’Steen & Harrison offers free, confidential consultations to people nationwide who have undergone a Wright Profemur hip replacement surgery. Call toll free at 1-800-883-8888.
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