In a compelling legal battle that could have significant implications for medical device manufacturers, Christopher Clanton has filed a lawsuit against Wright Medical Technology, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on March 14, 2025. The complaint alleges that the company’s artificial hip product, specifically the Profemur Modular Neck, is defective and led to severe personal injuries.
Christopher Clanton, a resident of Mandeville, Louisiana, underwent total hip arthroplasty on November 3, 2005. During this procedure, several components from Wright Medical's Profemur line were implanted into his right hip. These included the Profemur Plasma Z Stem and the Profemur Modular Neck. According to Clanton's filing, these devices performed as expected until May 21, 2023, when the modular neck suddenly fractured while he was walking along Lake Pontchartrain. This unexpected failure left him in severe pain and required immediate rescue by first responders.
The complaint highlights several critical points about Wright Medical's knowledge and actions concerning their products. It alleges that Wright Medical was aware of potential issues such as micromotion and fretting corrosion with their modular necks but failed to disclose these risks to surgeons or patients like Clanton. "At the time of Plaintiff's surgery," states the complaint, "Wright Medical did not inform Plaintiff's surgeon that it had knowledge that Profemur Modular Necks were expected to suffer from micromotion, fretting corrosion, and ultimately fracture."
Clanton further accuses Wright Medical of misleading marketing practices by promoting their products as suitable for an active lifestyle without adequately warning about potential risks. The plaintiff asserts that these actions amount to breaches of both express and implied warranties under Louisiana law.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages exceeding $75,000 for medical expenses related to revision surgery performed on May 23, 2023. Additionally, Clanton is pursuing damages for ongoing pain and suffering resulting from what he describes as a defective product design.
Representing Christopher Clanton in this case are attorneys whose identities remain undisclosed in this document. The case has been assigned Case ID: 2:25-cv-00501 under the jurisdiction of judges within the Eastern District of Louisiana.