subject: Recipients Not Aware of the Risks of Their DePuy Pinnacle Hip Replacement System [print this page] Recipients Not Aware of the Risks of Their DePuy Pinnacle Hip Replacement System
Hip replacement surgery typically involves the replacement of the cartilage and bone in the hip joint with a synthetic device that mimics the normal ball-and-socket nature of the natural joint. The "ball" part of the joint is at the top of the thighbone, which is replaced with a metal stem that has a metal ball located at the top. The inside of the hip socket is then usually lined with a plastic cup in which the metal ball-and-stem located at the top of the thighbone fits. Recently metal-on-metal hip replacement systems have been developed in which the plastic liner is replaced with a metal one, purportedly resulting in a more durable device.
The Pinnacle hip replacement system is one such metal-on-metal device that DePuy developed to be marketed to younger patients who want to maintain an active lifestyle. The device proved to be popular after being released to the public in 2003, but since then has been the subject of complaints by consumers. The latest issue with the DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement system is that the product now could carry the risk of patients developing metal toxicityalso called "metallosis." The alleged issue is caused when metal particles flake off the components and end up in the tissue surrounding the device.
The symptoms of metal toxicity are common to many other ailments so it is important that a doctor checks you at the first sign of the ailment if you have undergone hip replacement surgery with a DePuy Pinnacle system or similar metal-on-metal device. Symptoms vary from patient to patient, but the most common are disorientation and a general malaise. Regardless, you need to be on guard if you have a metal-on-metal hip replacement system because the risk of metal toxicity is very real.
Many people who have received hip replacements with systems such as the DePuy Pinnacle that carry the risk of developing metal toxicity are not aware that such a risk exists. If you have undergone hip replacement surgery, it is important that you speak to your doctor regarding the potential issues of your hip replacement system model. Otherwise you may never know to take the appropriate actions to protect both your health and your rights.
If you have a DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement system and have suffered pain, loosening, or the symptoms of metal toxicity, it is important to understand all of your rights. The attorneys at the Rottenstein Law Group have a total of over 25 years of experience protecting the rights of their clients against big medical device corporations like DePuy.
