Every Recipient of the All-Metal DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implant Should be Aware of the Ongoing Litigation Against the Manufacturer Regarding Premature Failure

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The US Drug Watchdog says, "According to court records there are at least 140,000 DePuy Pinnacle all-metal hip implant recipients in the United States. There is national litigation that has begun over the issue of premature failures with this specific hip implant device. We are urging recipients to call us at 866-714-6466 for information related to a specific blood test that has been designed to test for elevated levels of cobalt and chromium in their blood. However, in order to get compensated for a hip implant failure, the DePuy Pinnacle recipient must have already had a hip implant replacement, or a medical doctor must have ordered a replacement, or revision surgery.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140409/PH00989-a)

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140409/PH00989-b)

"If the cobalt and/or chromium levels are elevated, this may be a signal the all-metal hip implant has begun to fail, or it already has failed."  For more information about the DePuy Pinnacle hip implant, and a blood test that measures cobalt and chromium levels in a recipient's blood, please call the US Drug Watchdog at 866-714-6466.

Are there other medical effects that can occur with my metal-on-metal hip implant?

According to the US FDA, "Metal-on-metal hip implants have the same adverse effects as other types of hip implants, including infection, loosening, bone loss, device or bone fracture, and joint dislocation."

In addition, "metal particles from a metal-on-metal implant may cause a reaction around the joint, leading to deterioration of the tissue around the joint, loosening of the implant and failure of the device. Metal ions from a metal-on-metal implant will enter the bloodstream." These problems included:

• General hypersensitivity reaction (skin rash)
• Cardiomyopathy
• Neurological changes including sensory changes (auditory, or visual impairments)
• Psychological status change (including depression or cognitive impairment)
• Renal function impairment
• Thyroid dysfunction (including neck discomfort, fatigue, weight gain or feeling cold)

Updates on litigation involving metal-on-metal hip implant manufacturers that are being sued for premature failures from the US Drug Watchdog include: 

* DePuy Pinnacle Case Number U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas MDL#2244. Legal sources are now telling the US Drug Watchdog that in order to be compensated for a DePuy Pinnacle all metal hip implant a failure must have occurred that required revision surgery, or a medical doctor now must be recommending revision surgery because the device has failed, or because of metalosis has been diagnosed.

* Stryker Rejuvenate Modular & ABG II-recalled June 2012. 

* Biomet M2a Magnum Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. (Case No. 3:12-cv-3476) filed on July 2nd 2012. The US Drug Watchdog says, "For some recipients of the Biomet M2A, and M2 Magnum there may be a looming statute of limitations issue of April 15th 2014 to get identified by the court if your hip implant has failed. Please call us for more information."  

* Wright Medical Technology, Inc., Conserve Hip Implant Products Liability Litigation ("MDL No. 2329"). This is now pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

The US Drug Watchdog says, "If you have a friend or loved one who is a recipient of a metal-on-metal hip implant that has already failed or is showing symptoms of a failure, or if a recipient is concerned about a premature failure, please call us at 866-714-6466. We want to make certain all metal-on-metal hip implant recipients get meaningful help and assistance." http://USDrugWatchdog.com

For attribution purposes please refer to the January 2013 notification by the US Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/MetalonMetalHipImplants/ucm241766.htm

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas MDL#2244

Media Contact:

M. Thomas Martin, 866-714-6466

Read more news from the US Drug Watchdog.

SOURCE US Drug Watchdog