DePuy Pinnacle Implant Lawyers

• Defective Medical Devices
• DePuy Pinnacle Implant

Why the DePuy metal ASR and Pinnacle Hip Implants Are Failing?

Data from a registry of patients in the United Kingdom indicates that up to 50% of patients implanted with the defective DePuy ASR hip implant may be forced to undergo revision surgery within six years of their original hip replacement surgery.

**We are no longer accepting cases for this defective medical device**

DePuy also manufactured metal-on-metal hip implants sold under the brand name Pinnacle hip with a metal liner (called the Ultamet metal liner). In many patients, the metal-on-metal version of the Pinnacle hip implant has failed.

The FDA has stated that there are “unique risks” for metal-on-metal artificial hips because tiny metal ions can wear off and damage nearby tissue. Patients who received all metal implants should be aware of symptoms of a defective metal hip implant. Common symptoms may include:

• Pain in the groin, hip or leg
• Swelling at or near the hip joint
• A limp or change in walking ability

Complaints filed by patients allege that the DePuy ASR hips and certain DePuy Pinnacle metal hip implants are defective and fail due to a design flaw for two principal reasons:

• The device slips or the shell does not sit in place in the hip and it resists bone growth.
• Friction within the metal hip implant cause microscopic shavings and metal debris to be released into the surrounding tissue and blood. This can lead to a condition called metallosis, or an excessive exposure to metal, which is characterized by the painful, inflammatory reaction in the tissue and a high blood metal count.

The DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement is a metal-on-metal design that allows the surgeon to choose which type of liner to place inside the outer cup. The surgeon can choose between a metal liner, ceramic liner or polyethylene liner.

From January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received 548 adverse event reports regarding various DePuy Pinnacle products. Some of those adverse event reports included situations in which the patient required revision surgery because the implant was loosening or coming out of position. While the adverse reports continue to be tracked by the FDA, no official statement has been made as to whether the loose implants are due to defective DePuy Pinnacle implants or errors occurring during implantation.

$1-billion verdict

Johnson & Johnson pulled Pinnacle’s metal-on-metal version of the hip off the market in 2013 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration toughened regulations covering such devices. Pinnacle hips made out of different materials continue to be sold in the United States.

The suits are consolidated before U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade in Dallas for pretrial information exchanges and test trials. J&J won the first case and lost the next two, including a $1-billion verdict. read more...

Contact Miller Weisbrod Olesky

Miller Weisbrod Olesky, LLP is the national leader in handling complex medical device litigation. We represent individuals nationwide who have suffered adverse effects due to defective metal-on-metal hip implants.

If you or a loved one has suffered due to a defective metal-on-metal hip implant, we can help you pursue just compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and the pain and suffering you have endured. We invite you to call our main offices in Dallas at (214) 987-0005 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney who will give you honest answers to your questions and a free case evaluation.

If you are calling from outside the DFW Metroplex, please call our toll-free line at (888) 987-0005. You may also contact us by e-mail to schedule an appointment or request additional information.