According to DePuy Synthes, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, the Craniomaxillofacial Distraction System was designed to elongate and strengthen patients’ lower jaws after traumatic injuries or in the event of birth defects. While many patients have reported gradual success with the device, others have allegedly suffered from complications such as respiratory distress and tracheal obstruction. If you experienced these problems after being implanted with the Distraction System and would like to know your legal options, contact a DePuy jaw implant attorney today.
Why Was the DePuy CMF Distraction
System Recalled?
The recall notice, issued in August 2014 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), states that the DePuy CMF Distraction System can potentially reverse direction after implantation. In other words, rather than lengthening the jaw, the device may shorten, and subsequently fall out of place. In adults, this complication would typically require removal and/or replacement of the device, but in infants and young children, tracheal obstruction can often lead to respiratory distress and, ultimately, death.
Infants are at a higher risk of these complications because, unlike adults, they cannot fully regulate their airways. Babies are not physically capable of “breathing around” the obstruction and may become strangled. DePuy notified hospitals of this risk in April 2014, and the FDA issued a Class I recall of the device just four short months later. The FDA classifies recalls into categories that indicate the severity of the alleged issues; a Class I recall is the most serious of these categories because it indicates a product may cause serious injury or death.
Is Legal Counsel Necessary?
While some patients may wish to pursue claims on their own, believing that proving injury is relatively easy, it may be in your best interest to work with a DePuy jaw implant attorney if you feel you have a case. Because these medical device manufacturers often have their own physicians and legal teams whose responsibilities are to protect the companies from lawsuits, attempting to file on your own may be particularly difficult.
However, a DePuy jaw implant attorney in Florida can help patients prove that their injuries were caused by the device or that the device was allegedly faulty. Doing so can help victims recover the damages to which they may be entitled. While it is important to keep in mind that a DePuy jaw implant attorney cannot guarantee compensation in any amount, plaintiffs may be eligible to recover for pain and suffering, loss of earning capacity or lost wages, and medical expenses, including treatments, surgical procedures, physicians’ visits, and more.
Need a DePuy Jaw Implant Attorney in Florida?
If you believe you have a case, contact Attorney Group for Florida today for a free, no obligation consultation. We are investigating potential claims on behalf of patients who received the DePuy CMF Distraction System and who allegedly suffered injuries and required revision procedures due to complications caused by the device. If you are eligible, Attorney Group for Florida can put you in touch with an affiliated DePuy jaw implant attorney in Florida who can file a lawsuit on your behalf. Call today.
