Lawsuit Filed Over Fractured M-Cor Hip Replacement Implants

An Arizona man has filed a product liability lawsuit after both of his hip replacements failed when M-COR hip implant components fractured inside his body. 

The complaint (PDF) was filed by William Fraze and his wife, Anna, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona on May 21. Defendants named in the lawsuit include Portland Orthopedics Limited, Plus Orthopedics, Smith & Nephew, Inc., Maxx Health, Inc., Mipro US, Inc. and Encore Medical Corporation.

According to allegations raised in the hip replacement lawsuit, Fraze received an M-COR femoral neck and femoral stem as part of his artificial hip systems implanted into his left hip in June 2007 and into his right hip in August 2007.

In April 2010, Fraze alleges that his left hip implant broke, causing a large knot to appear and resulting in excruciating pain with even slight weight. An x-ray revealed that the M-Cor femoral neck component of the left hip had fractured, which was confirmed during revision surgery that same month.

Only a few months after that surgery, in August 2010, Fraze heard a snap in his right hip, which caused his leg to give out and prevented him from bearing any weight on his right leg. X-rays revealed that the femoral neck of the M-COR implant had dislocated, and following revision surgery on his right hip it was discovered that the proximal neck of the hip stem had fractured on that side as well.

The M-COR hip implant was developed in 1991 by Professor Ron Sekel and Portland Orthopedics Limited in Australia, according to the lawsuit. Portland Orthopedics began selling the M-COR after receiving FDA pre-market approval in 2006. Plus Orthopedics, which was eventually absorbed by Smith & Nephew, was the U.S. distributor for M-COR hip implants. Encore sold numerous components that were implanted with the M-COR. In 2009, Plus Orthopedics was acquired by Maxx Health, Inc.

According to allegations raised in the complaint, the M-COR components implanted in his hips were defective. The predecessor for the components, the MARGRON DTC Hip Replacement System, was recalled in Australia in 2008, due to a higher-than-normal revision rate. At the time, Portland Orthopedics recommended regular monitoring for all patients who received their M-COR implants in the United States.

Fraze seeks damages for physical and mental pain and suffering, physical impairment, physical disfigurement, past and future medical bills, loss of earning and earning capacity. His wife is suing for loss of consortium and loss of household services.