DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implant Lawsuit Alleges Plaintiff Suffered Metallosis

By Andrea Gressman

 

Brucer Bernier, a native of Texas, has filed a DePuy hip implant lawsuit claiming he suffered metal poisoning resulting from a DePuy metal hip implant he received. He filed the DePuy Pinnacle hip implantlLawsuit in the Northern District of Texas on August 31, 2012.

DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implant Lawsuit Claims Plaintiff Not Warned of Pinnacle Side Effects

Bernier’s DePuy hip implant lawsuit states that in 2008 he underwent hip replacement surgery, and the DePuy Pinnacle model was implanted, which reportedly causes metallosis (or metal poisoning) in some DePuy hip implant patients due to its metal liner. In Bernier’s DePuy metal hip implant lawsuit, he claims that he was never told of the potential side effects that the metal-on-metal hip implants are known to cause.

As a result of the DePuy Pinnacle hip implant, he developed metal poisoning and suffers severe pain and other disabilities -- to the point of being unable to walk without a cane. He also feels his all metal replacement hip could fail at any time. The DePuy hip implant lawsuit also states that corrective surgery may be his only option to help ease the side effects resulting from his injuries.

Bernier is seeking compensation for losses -- both economic and non-economic. He also seeks both punitive and exemplary damages in his DePuy Pinnacle hip implant lawsuit.

DePuy ASR Hip Implant Recalled, But Not Pinnacle

DePuy’s ASR hip implant model was recalled in 2010 amidst allegations of metallosis and other metal hip implant side effects. Many adverse event reports surrounded the DePuy ASR hip implant model, including reports of implant loosening and metal poisoning. Both a DePuy class action lawsuit and a multidistrict litigation (MDL) have been established involving the ASR metal hip implant. However, no announcement of a recall of the Pinnacle model has been made.

DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implant Fast-Tracked to Approval without Rigorous Safety Testing

In Bernier’s Pinnacle hip implant lawsuit it claims that the Pinnacle metal hip implant was quickly approved as it only had to be similar to a previously approved device. This fast-track method meant that it could sidetrack the normally required rigorous testing that would prove or disprove that the product was safe.

Though the DePuy Pinnacle hip implant was similar to a 1976 metal hip implant model, the short-cut method used to quickly approve the Pinnacle hip replacement meant that it hadn’t undergone the normal safety testing and the potential side effects of the Pinnacle hip implant were not properly or sufficiently evaluated.

DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implant Side Effect: Metallosis – What is It?

Metallosis is described as a metal-to-metal contact between parts of the replacement hip implant. This can result in metallic fragments entering into the tissue, bone, and/or bloodstream of the patient, resulting in side effects such as metal poisoning, inflammation, pain and swelling. Proper testing of the Pinnacle hip replacement could have identified these metal hip implant side effects before the DePuy Pinnacle hip implant was released to the market and implanted in unsuspecting patients, Bernier’s DePuy Pinnacle hip implant lawsuit says.

Do You Have a DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implant Lawsuit?

Have you developed metallosis or other side effects due to a DePuy Pinnacle hip implant or other metal on metal hip implant? If so, please visit the DePuy, Biomet, Wright Medical Technology & Others, Metal on Metal Hip Implant Class Action Lawsuit Investigation page right away. DePuy Pinnacle hip implant lawsuit attorneys are currently standing by waiting to investigate your metal hip implant side effects, including: degenerative heart disease cardiomyopathy; a higher risk of cancer due to toxic substances leaking from metal-on-metal hip implants; swelling, inflammation and severe discomfort; non-cancerous tumors surrounding the hip implant site which can cause pain; premature failure of the metal hip replacement requiring revision surgery; and metallosis. They do not get paid unless you do.

 

Updated September 28th, 2012

All medical device, dangerous drug and medical class action and lawsuit news updates are listed in the Drug and Medical Device section of Top Class Actions.

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