Biomet M2A Magnum Hip Implant Lawsuit

The Biomet M2A Magnum Hip Implant is a type of metal-on-metal hip replacement. It has been linked to severe complications, including toxic metal poisoning (metallosis), device failure, tissue damage, pseudotumor growth, and more. If you were injured by this medical device, you are not alone. If you decide to file a Biomet hip implant lawsuit, you could be entitled to significant financial compensation for your injuries, expenses, and more.

UPDATE: $56 Million Biomet M2A Magnum Lawsuit Settlement

February 10, 2014 — Biomet agrees to pay $56 million to settle over 1,000 Magnum M2A and M2a-38 hip implant lawsuits, for a base payment of $200,000 per plaintiff. Click here to read more.

January 9, 2013 — There are 893 Biomet M2A lawsuits pending in federal court, and the first trials have been set to begin June 2015. Click here to read more.

July 18, 2013 — At least 494 lawsuits involving the Biomet M2A hip implant are now pending in the federal MDL. Click here to read more.

December 5, 2012 — A South Carolina man has filed a lawsuit alleging that the Biomet M2A Magnum hip implant is defective. Click here to read more.

October 3, 2012 — A federal judicial panel has centralized Biomet M2A Magnum hip implant lawsuits into a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)  in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, before Judge Robert L. Miller. Nearly 70 pending lawsuits will be transferred to the court. Click here to read more.

Biomet M2A Magnum Hip Implant Overview

The Biomet M2A Magnum Hip Implant is a type of metal-on-metal hip replacement that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004. It is very similar to the DePuy Hip Implant, which is another metal-on-metal hip implant that was recalled in 2010 due to safety concerns.

The problem with metal-on-metal hip implants is that they were marketed as safe, long-lasting devices ideal for younger, healthier, physically active patients — but unfortunately, multiple scientific studies have linked the metal-on-metal design to higher rates of severe side effects than plastic or ceramic designs.

• In February 2012, a study published in the British Medical Journal warned that metal-on-metal hip implants can shed metal particles, causing metal poisoning
• In March 2012, a study published in the Lancet found that metal-on-metal hip implants were more likely to fail than plastic or ceramic designs. About 6% of metal-on-metal devices failed in the first 5 years, compared to 1.7% of plastic devices, and 2.3% of ceramic devices.
• In May 2012, a study published in the Journal of Arthroplasty found that metal-on-metal hip implants corroded more severely and more quickly than plastic or ceramic devices.
• In June 2012, a study published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery found that 39% of people with metal-on-metal hip implants developed pseudotumors.
• The FDA has recently called for 21 manufacturers of metal-on-metal devices to conduct safety studies to determine the risks of these devices.

Biomet Hip Implant Class Action

As of April 2014, Biomet was facing over 1,600 lawsuits involving the Biomet M2a-Magnum and M2a-38 hip implants. These lawsuits were not part of a Biomet hip implant class action — they are individual lawsuits that have been centralized in a federal court. The Biomet Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2391) is located in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. In February 2014, Biomet agreed to pay $56 million to settle hundreds of cases, with each qualifying plaintiff receiving a base award of $200,000.

Toxic Metal Poisoning

One potential side effect of the Biomet M2A Magnum hip replacement is the risk of metallosis, or metal poisoning. The device is designed with a metal femoral head, which pivots inside a metal cup. These metal parts are made of chromium and cobalt. Over time, the grinding metal parts can shed charged ionic particles of chromium and cobalt into the body. This can cause severe damage to tissue, muscles, and bones around the hip implant, leading to premature device failure and excruciating pain. Metal particles can also leach into the bloodstream, causing metal poisoning.

Symptoms of Problems with Biomet Hip Implant

If you have received a Biomet M2A Magnum hip implant, it is a good idea to be familiar with the symptoms of a defective device. People who are harmed by this device may suffer chronic pain, need an additional surgery, incur expensive medical bills, and suffer decreased quality of life.

The early warning signs of device failure may include:

• Swelling, or inflammation around the implant
• Displacement of the device. It may feel loose or unstable. Your hip or leg may move oddly when you walk. Your leg may become weak while you are walking. The device may make a “clicking” noise while you walk.
• Pain in the hip. This pain could be minor, moderate, or severe.

Biomet M2A Magnum Hip Implant Side Effects

The Biomet M2A Magnum hip implant has been linked to a number of severe side effects, including:

• Device failure, which may require an additional corrective surgery
• Damage or death of tissue around the hip joint (necrosis)
• Metal poisoning caused by increased levels of chromium and cobalt in the body
• Chronic pain in the implant
• Bone damage, or bone loss
• Pseudotumors (non-cancerous collections of fluid or soft tissue around the implant, which can cause device failure)