DePuy Pinnacle Hip Injury Lawsuits

DePuy Pinnacle Hip Replacement System

DePuy Orthopedics Incorporated is a global orthopedic device and supply company, and a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. DePuy currently has over 200 products on the market. Three of these products, The Pinnacle Hip Replacement System, the ASR XL Acetabular System total hip replacement, and the ASR Hip Resurfacing System, which were designed to help younger patients gain a better range of motion with an existing hip replacement device and eliminate the problem of device failure caused by overuse, have shown to cause serious complications to patients. Only two of these three systems, the ASR XL and ASR Hip Resurfacing System, have been recalled thus far. The Pinnacle system, which is also under fire for causing complications, has not yet been voluntarily recalled by DePuy

About The Pinnacle System

The Pinnacle system which was approved by the FDA in 2000 has five different options for ball-and-socket surfaces:

• Ceramic-on-polyethylene
• Metal-on-polyethylene
• Ceramic-on-ceramic
• Metal-on-metal
• Ceramic-on-metal

The options for different bearing surfaces of this system allow surgeons to choose a model according to each patient’s individual needs. DePuy’s theory with these models was that the stronger the material of the bearing surface, the more durable and resistant the systems would be to wear and premature failure.

Unfortunately, as with other DePuy metal-on-metal hip systems, The Pinnacle has shown to cause more adverse effects than proactive solutions for patients. The chief design flaw is the metal-on-metal configuration. The friction between the metal ball and socket has shown to cause metal debris to be released into patients’ bloodstreams resulting in metal toxicity and metallosis. Metallosis condition often leads to patients experiencing dizziness, headaches, cobalt poisoning, nervous system damage, cardiac and cognitive damage. Additionally, the system has shown to cause other severe complications including broken bones, extreme pain, infection, dislocation of the implant, metal sensitivity, tissue damage (necrosis), difficulty walking, and a need for a second revision surgery.

Doctors have estimated that The Pinnacle will fail in 10 percent of patients. So far, nearly 150,000 patients have received the Pinnacle implant, and over 3,000 lawsuits have been filed against DePuy and Johnson & Johnson for injuries related to the metal-on-metal system, and DePuy’s failure to warn consumers of the implant’s defective design. The FDA has acknowledged the dangers posed to patients implanted with metal-on-metal hip implant systems and have urged companies to proactively and voluntarily discontinue selling these products.

MA DePuy Pinnacle Hip Injury Attorneys

If you or a loved one has suffered from injuries or complications after being implanted with one of DePuy’s Pinnacle hip replacement systems, call an experienced Boston defective Pinnacle hip implant attorney to discuss a potential case against DePuy and Johnson & Johnson. You may be entitled to compensation for injuries, medical expenses, and lost wages directly related to receiving a Pinnacle hip replacement. Our team of dedicated greater Boston attorneys is available around the clock to assist you with any questions you have about your case, and will work vigorously to help you get the compensation you deserve. Email us or call our Cambridge office at 617.492.3000 or toll free at 800.481.5199.