What is a hip replacement claim?

When undergoing hip surgery, you should be advised of your options, told of the risks and receive information about your prosthesis. Following hip replacement surgery you will hopefully benefit from improved health and a better standard of living as you are no longer in pain.

Unfortunately, hip replacements can go wrong and complications like nerve injuries, blood clots or chronic pain can occur. If you experience negative side effects from your hip replacement as a result of sub standard care, then you may be able to make a hip replacement compensation claim. If you did not receive appropriate care prior to your surgery, for example, the risks were not explained, then this may be considered medical negligence. Similarly, if surgery has caused problems to worsen or new problems to arise, then this could also be due to medical negligence.  

Instructing a qualified and specialist medical negligence lawyer to make a hip replacement claim can help you get the answers you are looking for, and recoup any losses, such as time off work or adaptations to your home or car.

Reasons for hip replacement surgery

The average age of a patient receiving a hip replacement is 60-80 years old. Although certain conditions or injuries mean younger people can also undergo hip replacements. The intention of a hip replacement is to improve the quality of life for people who have suffered as a result of hip problems. These hip problems can develop for various reasons including:

Accidents – like trips or falls leading to dislocation or fracture

Arthritis – there are many arthritis variants which cause distress to hip bones, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and septic arthritis

Bone dysplasia – bone dysplasia in the hip joints is generally present from birth but symptoms may not be obvious until later on

Hip replacement surgery involves removing the diseased hip and replacing it with a prosthesis. There are three main types of prosthetic:

• Total hip replacement
• Hemiarthroplasty
• Resurfacing

Each prosthetic should be explained in detail during your consultation and any risks associated should be outlined before surgery goes ahead. Where medical negligence has occurred, we will consider the type of prosthesis used and examine the way it was inserted during surgery.

The National Joint Registry also has resources and advice on hip replacement surgery.

Examples of hip replacement claims

There are a number of reasons patients may need to make a hip replacement claim. The following are the most common complaints we hear following hip surgery.

• Chronic pain
• Joint dislocation
• Nerve injuries, sometimes leading to foot drop
• Blood clots 
• Early revision of the initial replacement
• Leg shortening
• Fractures
• Infection

If you have suffered any of the above and suspect this may be down to medical negligence then you could have a case for hip replacement compensation. You can discuss your experience with our expert team during a no obligation consultation, to find out if you are able to make a claim and how we can help support you through it.

How do I know if I can make a claim?

To make a claim for compensation after a hip replacement, it must be shown that the treatment you received was below the expected standard and that this directly caused any or all of the side effects listed above. Typically medical negligence occurs because a healthcare professional failed in one or more of the following areas:

• Misdiagnosis of the hip problem such as not spotting a dislocation sooner or replacing a hip that did not surgery
• Failure to spot hip dysplasia in infants
• Inserting the wrong size prosthesis
• Badly fitted implants that come loose or wear much quicker than they should and need replacing sooner
• Surgical instruments being used incorrectly and causing nerve damage 

Metal on Metal Hip Claims

Metal on metal hip replacements were designed as a solution for hip replacement patients who were younger and more active. The idea being that they would last longer through enhanced durability, and allow patients to live a healthy and normal life. Unfortunately it was found that these implants could sometimes wear abnormally, causing metal debris to contaminate the surrounding tissue and muscle. This can cause considerable pain and even metallosis (blood poisoning from high levels of toxic metal). If you were fitted with a metal on metal hip replacement that has since malfunctioned, you have the right to have your circumstances investigated by a professional. 

What Can I Expect?

Compensation for negligent hip replacements will vary according to the severity of the injury and the impact on your life. We act on your behalf to gather as much evidence as possible and pursue compensation for things like:

• Financial losses due to time off work or being unfit for work
• The long term effects on your future health and earnings
• Any mobility aids if your hip replacement has made walking difficult
• The cost of transport or adaptations to your car 
• Cost of any carers you may need if your hip replacement makes caring for yourself difficult
• Rehabilitation costs and any future treatment.

Why Choose Us?

Patient Claim Line is a specialist medical negligence brand, owned and operated by one of the UK’s leading legal groups. That means we specialise in medical negligence cases and are experts in the field. We have helped thousands of people claim compensation for hip surgery that has gone wrong so that they can move on with their lives. Our nationwide solicitors will guide you through your hip replacement claim until you receive your final settlement. 

No Win No Fee Hip Replacement Claims

When we take your hip replacement compensation case on, it is always no win, no fee. If your claim is successful, we will take a pre-agreed percentage. If your claim is not successful, you will pay absolutely nothing at all. Those undergoing hip replacement surgery expect to fully recover and see a vast improvement in their joints and their mobility. When this doesn’t happen, we understand the impact it can have and treat your case with compassion and care from the first call.