Court documents report that DePuy Orthopaedics has been named as a defendant in more than 3,000 lawsuits in the U.S. by plaintiffs who claim that the company’s Pinnacle hip replacement device caused them to suffer from pain, infections, metal sensitivity, bone fractures, difficulty walking, metallosis, dislocation and tissue damage. Additionally, according to plaintiffs, the Pinnacle is similar in design and function to DePuy’s ASR implant that was pulled from the market in 2010 due to a higherthananticipated failure rate.
What is the Pinnacle Implant?
While many patients have reported little to no complications with allmetal hip implants, other individuals who received the Pinnacle device reportedly suffered from adverse side effects. According to the claims, even normal, everyday activities such as walking and bending caused them to suffer from excruciating pain, and many were placed at risk of metal poisoning due to the possibility of the implant’s metal parts rubbing together. If a patient is living with elevated ion levels, he or she may suffer from nervous system damage, dizziness, headaches and cobalt poisoning.
If you suffered from other adverse effects that you believe were caused by the Pinnacle implant, you may be eligible to file a New York DePuy hip replacement lawsuit. Some of the most common complications include:
- Dislocation
- Clicking noises from the joint
- Trouble walking
- Revision procedures
- Implant failure
- Serious pain or discomfort
- Decreased range of motion
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency received more than 1,200 adverse event reports from Pinnacle recipients in 2011 alone, a drastic increase from the 550 reports that were sent to the FDA in 2010. Of these 1,200 incidents, 450 claims involved the allmetal version of the implant.
Lawsuits Filed in the U.S.
Patients filing lawsuits accuse DePuy, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, of neglecting to warn consumers and healthcare providers of the potential risks and complications of the device despite having knowledge that the implant could cause adverse side effects. Additionally, others claim that they suffered from early device failure, inflammation and severe pain when, in fact, the implant was intended to reduce the pain associated with aging or injury.
Revision or removal procedures are often necessary to remove the device and correct the damage allegedly caused by the implant. According to many recipients, they were informed that there was no guarantee that these surgeries would allow them to regain their mobility. In some severe instances, patients were required to remain in a wheelchair due to complications allegedly caused by the device.
An experienced attorney can help determine if you are eligible to file a New York DePuy hip replacement lawsuit and can help you seek compensation for your injuries if you suffered from difficulty walking, permanent damage, loosening of the implant or early device failure after you were fitted with the Pinnacle allmetal implant. If you file a New York DePuy hip replacement lawsuit, you may be eligible to recover damages for lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses and more.
Can You File a New York DePuy Hip Replacement Lawsuit?
If you or someone you love was fitted with the Pinnacle hip replacement device and you suffered from complications that you believe were caused by the implant, you may have legal recourse. Please contact Attorney Group for New York today for a free case evaluation and to allow us to help you determine whether you are eligible to file a New York DePuy hip replacement lawsuit and seek compensation for your injuries. We can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
