Complaints of Adverse Events Skyrocket For Pinnacle Hip Implant

Our office just finished reviewing updated complaint data reported by the FDA about the DePuy Pinnacle hip implant.  The results continue to alarm us.  Based on complaint data reported through September 24, 2011, it is clear that that complaints about the Pinnacle hip implant are increasing rapidly.

Over 700 adverse event reports were filed with the FDA in just the last three months (July-September 2011.) This compares to 556 adverse event reports that were filed in the previous six months (January – June 2011) and 556 reports that were filed in all of 2010.

It is perplexing to us why the Food and Drug Administration has not yet recalled the Pinnacle hip implant.  Over 2,500 adverse event reports have been filed with the FDA regarding the Pinnacle hip implant.  To put this into perspective, in August 2010 when the FDA announced the DePuy ASR hip replacement recall, half the number of adverse event reports had been filed for the ASR  (1,195) as have now been reported for the Pinnacle (2,500.)

The following chart shows the history of adverse event reports for the Pinnacle hip implant:

Many of these reports are similar to the complaints that were reported for the DePuy ASR hip implant, which led to a massive hip replacement recall. For example, many doctors have reported that Pinnacle hip implants are failing due to a large amount of metal degrading from the implant. The problems with all metal-on-metal implant has recently been addressed by the media, including NBC Nightly News and The New York Times.

Despite the rapidly rising number of complaints, the FDA still has not forced DePuy to recall the Pinnacle hip implant. DePuy continues to sell the Pinnacle hip implant to unsuspecting patients who likely are not being told about the number of adverse events reports that have been filed with the FDA.

Brian Devine, a former insider at an orthopedic company who now represents victims of DePuy’s hip implants, is concerned that the FDA may be allowing a defective hip implant to remain on the market.  Brian Devine filed the first lawsuit involving the Pinnacle hip implant six months ago in October 2010.  Since then, more than 500 lawsuits have been filed across the country.

DEPUY PINNACLE HIP IMPLANT CLAIMS

Brian Devine, a partner with Seeger Salvas LLP, has filed several lawsuits on behalf of victims of the DePuy Pinnacle hip implant. We currently represent people from across the country who had a DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement that failed due to this defect.  If you or a loved one are a victim of DePuy’s Pinnacle hip implant, you may be entitled to recover damages in a lawsuit against the manufacturer.

REPORT YOUR DEPUY PINNACLE HIP IMPLANT COMPLAINT TO THE FDA

Brian Devine strongly encourages patients to notify the FDA about any serious problem they are having with the Pinnacle implant.  The FDA has a free and easy to use website that allows patients to file an adverse event report online. Click here to file an adverse event report with the FDA.

OUR HIP REPLACEMENT RECALL EXPERIENCE

We have an unparalleled depth of knowledge about hip implant claims that comes from years representing orthopedic companies.  Over the last fifteen years, we have handled thousands of hip replacement claims.  Brian Devine, one of the founding partners of Seeger Salvas LLP, used to be an executive at Sulzer Medica, a global manufacturer of hip and knee implants.  As its Assistant General Counsel, Brian was responsible for all of the firm’s product liability cases worldwide.  When the company suddenly had to recall several thousand hip and knee implants in December 2000, Brian was responsible for managing the resulting avalanche of litigation. He managed thousands of individual cases and directed attorneys in almost every state in the country. He then took a leading role in negotiating a nationwide class-action settlement which provided $1 billion in compensation for the victims of Sulzer Medica’s hip replacement recall.

Brian now uses his experience to help victims who are injured by hip replacement products.  His legal and medical knowledge combined with the unique perspective he gained while working for a orthopedics company makes him a formidable adversary. Brian’s skill as an advocate is best proven by his results. In the last few years alone, he has recovered more than $20 million for a wide variety of clients. He has scored five victories in excess of $1 million, and his largest victory is a $3.7 million settlement on behalf of a single client.