DePuy Pinnacle Lawsuit – Hip Implant Claims
North Carolina residents who have received a DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement may be at risk of serious injury. The experienced medical device attorneys at Ward Black Law can provide you with the legal assistance you need to pursue a DePuy Pinnacle claim or file a DePuy Pinnacle lawsuit.
Ward Black Law is investigating cases involving DePuy Orthopaedics, a subsidiary of medical device giant, Johnson & Johnson, and the DePuy Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip implant.
Overview
DePuy Orthopaedics is one of the world’s leading producers of medical devices. However, since 2008, the Food and Drug Administration has received more than 500 complaints related to the poor design and function of the DePuy Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip device. The DePuy Pinnacle hip implant is comprised of a metal ball, stem, and shell. Its metal-on-metal design, while intended to increase durability, can put recipients at risk for a range of serious injuries and health complications. The DePuy Pinnacle is the company’s last metal-on-metal hip replacement, and it has not been available in the United States since August 2013.
Fast forward to 2016, there are still more than 8,000 cases waiting to be resolved. These cases are under the oversight of Judge James Edgar Kinkeade in TX.
DePuy Orthopedics contend that the DePuy Pinnacle implant is not defective, stating it is not the same as the DePuy ASR hip (also a metal-on-metal hip) which caused major issues, resulting in two different settlement agreements. However, those individuals who have suffered great problems as a result of the DePuy Pinnacle argue otherwise. In fact, 10% of individuals with a DePuy Pinnacle implant have undergone painful corrective surgery.
While DePuy Orthopedics did recall the ASR model, they have not recall the Pinnacle, standing their ground that the Pinnacle model is not defective and that they intend to defend these cases to trial. Despite their position, a recent study has revealed that the Pinnacle model has a revision rate of 16.4%.
Despite DePuy’s best efforts to delay further trial dates, Judge Kinkeade ruled that bellwether trials would proceed beginning in September.
Side Effects
The DePuy Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip implant is believed to cause serious effects, including swelling, hip pain, infection, bone fracture, dislocation, metal sensitivity, and tissue damage as a result of metal debris and difficulty walking. All of these complications can lead to a need for surgical replacement of the metal-on-metal hip implant.
As a result of the friction between the metal ball and socket of the implant, metal debris can enter the bloodstream. This can leave implant recipients with dangerous levels of cobalt and chromium in their bloodstream.
This metal poisoning, also known as metallosis, can cause dizziness, headaches, cobalt poisoning, and damage to the central nervous system.
FDA Information on Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement
Learn more about what the Federal Drug Administration has to say about metal-on-metal hip implants, like the DePuy Pinnacle model.
Ward Black Law Can Help
If you have had hip implant surgery using a DePuy Pinnacle (metal on metal) device and have suffered complications requiring replacement of your DePuy Pinnacle metal on metal implant, an experienced attorney at Ward Black Law will gladly review your potential case. Seek the legal advice you need — call Ward Black Law today at (336) 502-6208 or contact us online.
