US Drug Watchdog Urges Recipients of DePuy Pinnacle All-Metal Hip Implants to Seek Second Opinion Regarding Condition of Implant Device

WASHINGTON, June 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The US Drug Watchdog says, "We are now urging recipients of the DePuy Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip implant to call at us 866-714-646 so we can explain why we think it is a very smart idea to get a second opinion from a orthopedic surgeon who was not involved in the initial implant. At the same time we would like to provide recipients of a DePuy Pinnacle, or any other type of all metal hip implant, the name and code number for a specific blood test that has been designed to measure cobalt and chromium levels in an all-metal hip implant recipient's blood, because we think this is the most efficient and cost-effective way to determine a premature failure, and a condition called metallosis." http://USDrugWatchdog.com

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The US Drug Watchdog says, "According to court records, there are at least 140,000 DePuy Pinnacle metal-on-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, and we are urging recipients to get a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon, who was not involved with the original hip implant surgery. One of the biggest problems we have is the original orthopedic surgeon will either not return the phone calls of hip implant recipients about their all metal hip implant, or they will be dismissive about the recipient's complaints about severe pain.

"In one recent incidence an orthopedic surgeon told an all-metal hip implant recipient who called us that the cobalt level of 1.3% in their blood stream was completely normal. This is why we are offering any recipient of an all metal hip implant the name and code number for a blood test that has been specifically designed to detect elevated levels of cobalt and chromium in a person's blood stream, and we are offering to have the results examined free of charge by an expert."

The US Drug Watchdog does not want to leave one DePuy Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip implant recipient behind holding the bag, stuck with an expensive hip replacement surgery, or other medical complications without doing everything possible to get the word out about this major issue. For more information, recipients of all metal hip implants can call the US Drug Watchdog anytime at 866-714-6466. http://USDrugWatchdog.Com

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

* 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 metallosis 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 anytime at 866-714-6466. We want to make certain all-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 about all-metal hip implants: http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/MetalonMetalHipImplants/ucm241766.htm

Contact:
M. Thomas Martin
866-714-6466

SOURCE US Drug Watchdog