As the population of the United States ages, hip fractures are becoming more common and bone cement is often used to repair the femur. One rare but severe side effect is bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS), which can cause pulmonary embolism, cardiac arrest, or death.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting bone cement induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by bone cement implantation syndrome, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: Bone Cement Trials Underway Over Spinal Surgery Deaths
June 24, 2016 — CVN is broadcasting the first trial over bone cement in spinal surgeries gone horribly wrong. It leaked into the bloodstream and caused severe blood clots. Both women died on the operating table in unapproved surgeries. Click here to read more.
What is Bone Cement?
Bone cement is an optional product that is used during orthopedic surgery on the joints, such as the hip, knee, shoulder, and elbow. The most popular “cement” is actually a plastic — Plexiglas, or poly (methylmethacrylate) (PMMA). This material is used to fill the space between an artificial joint and the patient’s bone.
Bone Cement and Hip Surgery
Bone cement was first used in hip surgery in the early 1940s. The procedure, also known as a femoral hemiarthroplasty, is similar to a total hip replacement but a surgeon only removes the “ball” part of the femur. Bone cement is used to anchor the prosthesis to the head of the femur.
Bone Cement Implantation Syndrome (BCIS)
Hip surgery is a relatively straightforward procedure that is not normally life-threatening. However, when bone cement is used, patients can potentially suffer a deadly side effect called bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS).
Experts do not fully understand what causes BCIS, but they do know that it usually occurs within a few minutes after bone cement is injected into a patient’s femur. This causes the bone to release fat and marrow into the bloodstream, which can clog arteries. This can cause cardiovascular side effects or a pulmonary embolism in the lungs.
Researchers Link Bone Cement and 41 Deaths
In June 2014, the British Medical Journal published a study from researchers who investigated how often bone cement causes BCIS. They found 62 severe adverse events, including 41 deaths, between 2005-2012 in England and Wales. They estimated that cardiac arrest or death occur in one in 3,000 people who are treated with bone cement in hip surgery.
Researchers warned:
“The alarm was first sounded in 2009, and most of the cases that have come to light have occurred since that date … This suggests that measures to reduce the risks are not being acted on widely enough.”
Safety Risks of Bone Cement
- Pulmonary embolism
- Hypoxia (low oxygen)
- Low blood pressure
- Irregular heart rhythm
- Cardiac arrest
- Heart failure
- Death
Do I have a Bone Cement Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting bone cement induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured by bone cement implantation syndrome, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
