Reading Drug Injury Lawyers
Reading Drug Injury Lawyers
When a doctor or drug manufacturer recommends a prescription or over-the-counter drug, you have the right to assume that the drug will improve your heath, not endanger it. At The Brod Law Firm in Reading, Pennsylvania, our attorneys handle personal injury cases for clients who have been injured by talcum powder and dangerous drugs like Invokana, Risperdal, Yaz/Yasmin, Essure, and many more.
For a dangerous drug claim to be successful in Pennsylvania, the attorneys and their client must prove negligence or false advertising on the part of the drug manufacturer. For example, if the manufacturer failed to adequately test its product before offering it to consumers and this negligence leads to the injury or death of a consumer, the manufacturer can be held liable. Additionally, if a drug manufacturer knowingly and willfully falsely marketed a product, the manufacturer can be held liable for damages.
At The Brod Law Firm, our Reading, Pennsylvania attorneys have helped successfully obtain sizable awards for clients who have been harmed by a number of dangerous drugs, including:
- Invokana
- Essure
- Risperdal
- Byetta/Januvia Pancreatic cancer
- Benicar Lawsuits (Azor/Tribenzor/Olmesartan
- Topamax Birth Defects
- Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filter failure
- Testosterone Therapy
- Granuflo -Dialysis Injury
- Proton Pump Inhibitors
- Yaz/Yasmin
- Talcum Powder
In addition to drug recall claims, our attorneys also help victims and their families after injury or death caused by defective or dangerous medical devices. We are experienced handling cases involving:
- Depuy Hip Replacements
- Transvaginal Mesh
- Ethicon Morcellator
Reading Invokana Lawsuit Lawyer
According to FDA Adverse Event Reports, use of SGLT2 inhibitors for diabetes has been associated with patients developing diabetic ketoacidosis, or too much acid in the blood. The FDA issued a drug safety communication warning diabetes patients using SGLT2 inhibitors to watch for signs of ketoacidosis such as difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, confusion, and unusual fatigue or sleepiness. The warning was issued after 20 cases of ketoacidosis were identified in the FDA's Database of Adverse Events related to the use of diabetes medications known as SGLT2 inhibitors such as Invokana and Invokamet.
In addition, we have spoken with experts who are concerned that Invokana may cause kidney failure. Because these drugs use the kidneys to lower blood sugar, they put extra stress on the kidneys, can increase the risk of kidney failure.
The FDA as also issued an alert about bone fractures and bone loss. Specifically patients taking 300mg of Invokana were nearly 50% more likely to suffer a fracture, with some fractures occurring as early as 12 weeks after the start of treatment. Hip bone density declined by as much as 1.2% over two years. A clinical trial also measured reduced femoral neck bone density.
Contact our Reading, Pennsylvania attorneys for assistance with your Vioxx® recall claim.
Reading Essure Lawsuit Lawyer
The concroversy over Essure may be entering a new phase as the US Food and Drug Adminstration announced a meeting to review the data surrounding the female sterilization device. This represents a significant victory for the thousands of women who have been campaigning, primarily via social media, for more attention to be paid to them, their injuries, and the role they believe Essure played in those injuries.
Essure was developed by Bayer as a non-surgical alternative for female sterilization. Up until Essure, women who wanted to end their ability to have children relied on tubal ligation or, in more common terms, having their tubes tied. The procedure was a surgical one that involved hospitalization and recovery time. Essure is a device that is implanted non-surgically in a woman's fallopian tubes. The device is intended trigger the development of scar tissue around it which, over time, would block the tube and cause sterilization.
Reports of issues with the device began almost immediately after its release with reports of bleeding and intense pain, as well as device migration and perforation of other internal organs.
Complaints to Bayer and numerous federal agencies garnered little attention or response. As a result, injured women took to social networks like Twitter and Facebook to come together, share stories, and coordinate.
That coordination soon turned into a movement, and it is by no means a small one. Essure Problems, the largest Essure associated group on Facebook, boasts thousands of members. Other Essure-focus groups, mostly regional collections of women from specific states, have membership ranging from the hundreds to the thousands.
The FDA meeting was hailed as a victory by those involved with the fight against Bayer. They hope that it signifies an acknowledgement that there may be a real problem for women all across the country.
Bayer is, of course, touting the meeting as an opportunity to clarify certain facts about the device; specifically what is referred to as its “risk-benefit profile.” All medical devices and drugs are gauged on their potential benefits to a patient versus the risks associated with using them. However, other facts about Bayer and Essure are sure to come to light. Allegations recently surfaced in a Philadelphia case which questioned not only whether untrained physicians were implanting patients with Essure but, in some cases, they were allegedly also using equipment provided by Bayer which was not FDA approved for such use.
Tens of thousands of women have been watching these FDA proceedings very closely and with cautious optimism.
A federal judge in Philadelphia has determined that an Essure lawsuit filed against pharmaceutical giant Bayer has enough merit to proceed. Bayer had previously moved for the case to be dismissed.
The judge sided with Bayer on most of its motion. The plaintiffs had originally brought 12 claims against the company and, using an FDA provision specific to devices granted premarket approval, Bayer argued that Essure was effectively protected from any sort of liability action in a state court. However, when examining the plaintiffs' claims as a whole, Judge John Padova determined that some of the claims are to be heard.
The first was that Bayer had misled the public through its advertising campaign for Essure. The second was that the company did not warn the public, be it consumers or prescribing physicians, about the dangers and risks associated with the use of Essure.
At The Brod Law Firm in Reading, Pennsylvania, our attorneys can evaluate your Essure claim and help you receive the compensation you deserve.
Reading Risperdal Lawsuit Lawyer
A 2006 study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology found the hormone prolactin may be significantly elevated in children and teens who take Risperdal, which can result in the development of breasts.
Other dangerous side effects of Risperdal in children and adolescents include:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Seizures
- Involuntary movements associated with tardive dyskinesia
- Somnolence
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
- Weight gain
Families weren't warned that boys and young men who use the drug Risperdal may be at an increased risk of developing gynecomastia, a condition of abnormal breast growth. This side effect can create an embarassing and emotionally scarring situation for a young person. Most recently, July 2016 a verdict was reached in Philadelphia for $70,000,000. million.
If your child developed gynecomastia while taking Risperdal, it's important to take action immediately. Call the Brod Law Firm to take the first step toward making the drug manufacturer take responsibility for letting your child get hurt.
The Brod Law Firm is actively seeking victims of Risperdal. Tell us what happened and have us evaluate your case today.
Contact our Reading, Pennsylvania injury law firm for an evaluation of your claim by our experienced attorneys.
Reading Byetta/Januvia Lawyer
Use of Januvia, Janumet, Byetta and Victoza is associated with acute pancreatitis, including hemorrhagic pancreatitis or necrotizing pancreatitis, which are often fatal. People who develop these conditions after using one of these drugs may suffer from the following:
- inflammation of the pancreas
- severe abdominal or back pain
- abnormal blood pressure
- nausea or vomiting
- elevated heart or respiratory rates
These injuries may persist after patients discontinue use of the prescription drugs. In addition, the drugs may increase the risk for developing pancreatic cancer. Byetta is also linked to various types of kidney dysfunction, thyroid cancer, heart failure and heart congestion.
Patients who are injured are left with new health concerns in addition to their diabetes. Treating severe side effects from these drugs requires long-term medical care and, in many cases, hospitalization. Although financial compensation cannot undo all of the harm injured patients may suffer, it can help them cover medical expenses and replace income lost from an inability to work.
Our Reading, Pennsylvania firm has experience representing Byetta/Januvia claims. Our attorneys can evaluate your case and help you receive compensation.
Reading Benicar Lawsuits Lawyer (Azor/Tribenzor/Olmesartan)
The lawsuit involving Benicar states the manufacturer failed to warn users of the increased risk of the gastrointestinal disease known as sprue-like enteropathy. Plaintiffs attorneys claim the manufacturers knew of the link, but made the decision not to warn doctors or patients.
Benicar is a blood pressure medication that blocks certain receptors, known as angiotensin receptors. Angiotensin II is a hormone that causes the blood vessels to constrict. By inhibiting the action of this hormone (as well as reducing the secretion and production of other hormones involved in regulating blood pressure), blood vessels become dilated.
Drugs of this class generate approximately $7 billion in revenue for the manufacturers. There are a number of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) on the market, but only Benicar has been implicated in the development of the intestinal disorder known as sprue-like enteropathy. Often misdiagnosed as celiac disease, sprue-like enteropathy prevents the intestinal system from properly absorbing nutrients from food. In essence, a patient who is not treated for this condition literally starves to death.
A recent Mayo Clinic study, conducted by Dr. Josephy Murray, has linked the development of sprue-like enteropathy to the use of Benicar. Sprue-like enteropathy is a disease that produces severe gastrointestinal symptoms; such as chronic diarrhea, significant weight loss, nausea, and overall malnutrition.
Dr. Murray conducted the study on 22 patients who were using Benicar and experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms, initially diagnosed as Celiac disease. However, the patients in the study were not responding to a gluten-free diet, a common form of treatment for Celiac disease, and did not have detectable tissue transglutaminase in their blood, which is used to positively diagnose Celiac disease.
Upon discontinuation of Benicar, all 22 patients experienced relief from the gastrointestinal symptoms as well as weight gain. Dr. Murray concluded that the Benicar being taken by the patients was directly linked to the gastrointestinal symptoms the patients were experiencing. Dr. Murray's study and findings on the link between Benicar use and sprue-like enteropathy was recently published online in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, and began the process of Benicar lawyers filing Benicar Lawsuits.
The product liability attorneys at The Brod Law Firm help individuals injured as a result of Benicar and other defective drugs.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that the blood pressure drug olmesartan medoxomil (marketed as Benicar, Benicar HCT, Azor, Tribenzor, and generics) can cause intestinal problems known as sprue-like enteropathy. FDA has approved changes to the labels of these drugs to include this concern.
Benicar Side Effects Are More Than Just a Pain in the Gut
The overall tally of Benicar lawsuits continues to creep slowly higher with the filing in late summer of a wrongful death lawsuit in New Jersey. The drug (olmesartan) is indicated to treat high blood pressure, a common malady amongst the American population.
Our Reading, Pennsylvania firm has experience representing Byetta/Januvia claims. Our attorneys can evaluate your case and help you receive compensation.
Reading Transvaginal Mesh Lawyer
$12.5 Million Verdict Awarded in Philadelphia Vaginal Mesh Case
Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon unit suffered a significant loss at the hands of a Philadelphia jury as a 65-year old Indiana woman wom a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the pharmaceutical giant.
Claiming that the mesh implant caused her various medical problems and took away her ability to have sex, Patricia Hammons' trial took two and a half weeks to complete. It also resulted in quite a few new watershed moments in the difficult and sordid history of the mesh implant.
A product engineer from Ethicon told the court that the development of the company's product included no alternative plans for the contingency of a mesh failure. For a device with an incredibly complicated removal procedure, this was a reprehensible oversight. In fact, an expert brought in for the plaintiff testified that mesh removal procedures generally amounted to surgical “train wrecks.”
For its part, Johnson & Johnson acknowledged that mistakes had been made while developing the mesh device but the mistakes were honest. The company added that there was never any actual intent to cause harm. The corporation's lawyer, Tarek Ismael, reiterated the company's commitment to improving the health of its customers.
One would logically have to wonder where that commitment was while they unleashed a surgical implant onto the public that came with no possibility of an easy removal.
The jury seemed to have the same question and, as a result, delivered a significant verdict. Hammons was awarded $5.5 million in compensatory damages. An additional $7 million was awarded punitively; a punishment, if you will, for Johnson & Johnson's failure to act and for marketing an unsafe product to an unwitting public. A company spokesman promised that the corporation would appeal.
Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits like those filed in this case against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon, have been ongoing for years with verdicts for both sides. In February of 2013, for example, a woman who endured 18 revision surgeries to try to correct issues with her mesh device was awarded over $11 million. We have been been closely monitoring the case against Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon unit, as well as other manufacturers, and can work with you to determine if you might qualify for a transvaginal mesh lawsuit.
If you have been injured by a dangerous or defective drug or medical device, contact The Brod Law Firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With experience handling defective drug recall claim cases, our attorneys can provide aggressive, skillful legal representation. In addition, our attorneys can assist you with auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, personal injury, and general product liability claims.
Reading Ethicon Morcellator Lawyer
This procedure can cause the spread of cancer.
When a woman requires a hysterectomy or uterine fibroid removal surgery, choosing a laparoscopy is meant to reduce pain, scarring and recovery time in comparison to a traditional procedure. If a power morcellator is used in the presence of undetected cancer, however, the device may spread the disease throughout a woman's body.
One in 350 women undergoing a hysterectomy or myomectomy has an undiagnosed type of uterine cancer called uterine sarcoma, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Power morcellation, which blasts tissue into fragments for laparoscopic removal, can simultaneously blast the cancerous cells into the abdomen and expedite the development of life-threatening cancer.
Johnson & Johnson Ethicon morcellation devices include:
- Gynecare Morcellex
- Morcellex Sigma
- Gynecare X-Tract
Ethicon suspended distribution of the devices in 2014 after the FDA issued a warning that discouraged the use of laparoscopic morcellation devices for hysterectomies and myomectomies. In October 2015, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon unit involving its power morcellators.
It's painful enough to undergo a hysterectomy or myomectomy to correct health problems, but a cancer diagnosis is devastating. If it happened to you, contact Reading drug injury lawyer Gary Brod at 1-888-435-7946 (888-HELPWIN) to protect your legal rights and obtain justice for these serious issues that should not have happened.
Contact our Reading, Pennsylvania attorneys for assistance with your claim.
Reading Topamax Lawsuit Lawyer
Topamax Birth Defects
Topiramate, commonly known by its prescribed name, Topamax is a anticonvulsant (antiepilepsy) drug that is used in conjunction with Phentermine for weight loss. Other uses for Topamax include treatment of epilepsy, and for preventing migraine headaches. While Topomax provides relief for the aforementioned conditions, recent studies have shown that birth defects may occur if a pregnant woman is using the medication.
Risks Associated With Topamax While Pregnant
Research performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that pregnant women are at risk for and women that are pregnant can have serious side effects while taking Topamax. Among the most common side effects are fatigue, paresthesia (tingling in the extremities), nausea, and depression. Other side effects include diarrhea, a loss of appetite, weight loss. Recent studies have shown that Topamax may also cause acute myopia, and various issues with the eyes, including angle closure glaucoma.
Risks Associated With Topamax And Infants
Studies have been done regarding SSRIs and pregnancy show that infants are at risk of several birth defects if mothers take Topamax during pregnancy. The studies conclude that Topamax is potentially toxic to a baby in utero; the potential for developing a cleft lip and/or cleft palate is unusually high. A recent neurology study has concluded that Topamax taken during pregnancy places infants at birth defects risks 16 times higher than the average risks. The most common health risks and birth defects include:
-Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension Of The Newborn (PPHN)
-Various Heart Defects
-Neural Tube Defects
-Spina Bifida
-Limb malformations
-Lung Defects
Topamax and Breastfeeding Warnings
Studies have also shown that taking Topamax while breastfeeding may have adverse effects on the newborn baby. Topamax can be transferred to the baby by breastfeeding, and although the amount of the drug is much less when compared to infant exposure in utero, babies who breastfeed are at risk for:
- Dirrahea
- Poor feeding habits
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
In some cases, infants were normal and healthy after breastfeeding. Each case is unique and each individual is different. If you take Topamax and are considering breastfeeding, it's important to weigh the benefits as well as the associated risks. Consults with your physician for more information.
Topamax Birth Defects and Liability
Several reports have indicated that taking certain antidepressant medications while pregnant will increase the risk of birth defects. Therefore, doctors have the obligation to tell their patients the potential hazards of taking the medication while pregnant.
If your physician failed to warn you about the risks associated with Celexa, they may be liable for damages should you or your infant develops health issues.
Additionally, drug manufacturers have the responsibility to tell the public, including physicians, of the potential hazards of taking their medications while pregnant. If they are negligent and fail to warn people of the medication's danger, they may be responsible for any damages should birth defects and health issues occur.
Contact our Reading, Pennsylvania attorneys for assistance with your claim.
Reading Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuits
Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with ovarian cancer? Talcum powder has been linked to ovarian cancer. Juries have awarded $55 million and $72 million in recent landmark Talcum Powder cases.
Talcum powder, found in baby powder, facial powders, and dry shampoos, is a common household product made of talc, a soft mineral which is extremely effective at absorbing moisture.. After being used for generations without concern, studies that began as early as the 1970s have now revealed that there could be a substantial link between use of talcum powder and the development of ovarian cancer in women if used in the genital area. A 2013 study by Brigham and Women's Hospital analyzed data from nearly 2,000 cases and discovered that there was a 20% to 30% increased risk of ovarian cancer in women who used talcum powder.
If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and used Talcum Powder regularly, then you should talk to one of our attorneys to explore whether or not you might have a legal claim.
Talcum powder is commonly found in:
- Baby powder
- Cosmetics
- Waterless shampoo
- Foot powders
As a woman who has used talcum powder and now have ovarian cancer what do I do now?
If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and believe that your cancer could be linked to the use of talcum powder, contact an attorney at The Brod Law Firm as soon as possible. We will discuss the specifics of your case and determine whether you have a claim.
If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer following regular talcum powder usage, you may be hesitant to hire an attorney because you don't think you can pay the attorney's fees. If financial worries are keeping you from contacting an attorney, don't wait a minute longer to get the representation you deserve. The drug injury attorneys at The Brod Law Firm work on a contingency basis when representing clients for talcum powder lawsuits. This means that your attorney will only get paid if he or she wins your case. If you don't win, you don't owe your attorney anything. There are no expensive hourly fees, down payments, or financial risks.
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson finds itself the subject of two class-action lawsuits filed in 2014, both of which claim the company is responsible for giving women ovarian cancer through its high-selling Johnson's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower.
The class-action filings came one year after South Dakota resident Deane Berg won her legal claim that J&J was negligent because it did not warn her during three decades of Baby Powder use could put her at greater risk for developing ovarian cancer. Berg was diagnosed with that type of cancer in 2006.
Together, the litigation's point to increased scrutiny on how responsible J&J is for not warning consumers – primarily women – about the dangers of its talc-based powders.
Talcum Powder Lawsuits
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson finds itself the subject of two class-action lawsuits filed in 2014, both of which claim the company is responsible for giving women ovarian cancer through its high-selling Johnson's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower.
The class-action filings came one year after South Dakota resident Deane Berg won her legal claim that J&J was negligent because it did not warn her during three decades of Baby Powder use could put her at greater risk for developing ovarian cancer. Berg was diagnosed with that type of cancer in 2006.
Together, the litigation's point to increased scrutiny on how responsible J&J is for not warning consumers – primarily women – about the dangers of its talc-based powders.
Over many decades, women applied talc-based powders to dusted their private parts with talcum powders or sprinkled them on undergarments and sanitary pads to keep the groin area cool and comfortable and discourage the development of vaginal odors. Additionally, the reproductive tracts of many women were exposed to talcum powder via diaphragms sprinkled with the product or condoms that were coated with it.
Although there is some conflicting research, most published medical studies indicate that talc-based powders, when used by women long term to keep moisture, odor and chafing under control around their vagina, are associated with ovarian cancer.
Reading Testosterone Lawsuit Lawyer
Testosterone Use and Cardiac Issues
Testosterone products, which are prescribed to treat low testosterone (“Low T”) in men, have become popular among young men seeking physical enhancement and older men who want to counter signs of aging. But there is growing concern that these products have serious side effects and long-term risks, particularly related to the heart.
Men who suffer injuries from Testosterone product such as cardiac arrest, stroke, other hear related issues or other adverse side effects after using testosterone products or supplements are beginning to file lawsuits, saying they were not properly warned of the risks.
As the medical community learns more about adverse events from Low T therapies, drugmakers' statements about risks and benefits will come under more scrutiny.
Testosterone and Low-T Drugs Under Investigation
- AndroGel - Manufactured by AbbVie
- AndroDerm - Manufactured by Actavis
- Axiron - Manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company
- Bio-T-Gel - Manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals
- Fortesta - Manufactured by Endo Pharmaceuticals
- Striant - Manufactured by Columbia Laboratories
- Testim - Manufactured by Auxilium Pharmaceuticals
- Testopel - Manufactured by Auxilium Pharmaceuticals
- Delatestryl - Manufactured by Indevus Pharmaceuticals
- Depo-Testosterone - Manufactured by Pharmacia & Upjo
Depending on how pharmaceutical companies market their products to specific populations, such as elderly men or healthy men with no history of hypogonadism (low testosterone), they could face allegations that they made misleading statements about the benefits of their Low T drugs.
In March 2015, the agency issued a safety warning that testosterone drugs may increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and death in men taking FDA-approved testosterone products. Over 1,000 lawsuits filed by men who say testosterone drugs caused their cardiovascular problems are pending in federal court.
Concerns in Older Men
There are already concerns about the risks that testosterone therapies pose for older men. According to a report from the Washington Times, Boston University School of Medicine researchers stopped a study of testosterone therapy use in older men in 2010. Compared with subjects taking a placebo, men taking the testosterone drugs were five times as likely to experience severe heart problems such as congestive heart failure.
Considerable Risks
Some critics are concerned that there is no proof that the drugs benefit healthy men. In particular, some doctors feel there should be more agreement about what constitutes a normal testosterone level. Since testosterone therapies are not proven treatments, they caution that risks may outweigh benefits for healthy men.
Unproven Benefits
In June 2013, Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman of Georgetown University Medical Center told USA Today that testosterone therapy “offers no proven benefits for healthy men. Low T syndrome is invented by pharmaceutical companies to sell treatment products.”
Status Of Testosterone Lawsuits are pending as first case was filed in Philadelphia in 2014. The defendants currently include Abbott, AbbVie, Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and Pharmacia & Upjohn. Plaintiffs' attorneys indicate that 1,000 lawsuits have been filed for use of Androgel.
Contact our Reading, Pennsylvania attorneys for assistance with your claim.
Reading DePuy ASR and Pinnacle Hip Implant Lawsuits Lawyer
Thousands of implant recipients who experienced pain, swelling, nerve, muscle and bone damage, or blood poisoning after receiving a DePuy hip implant are suing, claiming the product design was defective.
More than 8,600 ASR cases have been grouped together in federal court as part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL). The cases are being overseen by Judge David A. Katz in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Thousands of additional ASR cases are pending in state courts. According to a November 2013 Bloomberg report, DePuy Orthopedics parent company Johnson & Johnson will pay $2.5 billion to settle 7,500 of the ASR cases.
More than 5,400 claims related to the Pinnacle hip system are included in an MDL in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas under the supervision of Judge James E. Kinkeade. The first trial is scheduled for September 2014.
The DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System total hip replacement and ASR Hip Resurfacing System were used in more than 93,000 hip replacement surgeries internationally. Both systems were members of a class of large-diameter hip resurfacing and replacement devices created from a single sheet of metal. They were designed to be more stable, making them less prone to dislocation.
DePuy's ASR XL Acetabular System Recalled
The DePuy ASR XL Acetabular System total hip replacement and ASR Hip Resurfacing System were used in more than 93,000 hip replacement surgeries internationally. Both systems were members of a class of large-diameter hip resurfacing and replacement devices created from a single sheet of metal. They were designed to be more stable, making them less prone to dislocation.
Launched in the United States in 2005, the ASR XL System was developed for use in total hip replacements. The DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System, which was sold only internationally beginning in 2003, was intended to be used in hip resurfacing, which eliminates the need to remove a lot of the natural hip structure.
DePuy Orthopedics issued a recall in August 2010 of both ASR hip systems, citing a higher-than-normal failure rate of the devices. The British Orthopaedic Association and the British Hip Society cited the failure rate of these devices as anywhere from 21 to 49 percent after six years and evidence presented during trial puts the rate at close to 40 percent in five years. The cost of hip revision surgery can be in the tens of thousands of dollars. The pain and the loss of mobility causes distress, making the cost of a faulty hip replacement both financial and emotional.
Complications Associated with Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants
An increasing number of patients who received a DePuy hip implant have experienced serious complications after their initial hip replacement surgery.
Examples of these complications include:
- Difficulty walking
- Difficulty standing from seated position
- Bone fracture near the implant site
- Unexplained pain in thigh, hip or groin
- Dislocation of the implant so its parts are no longer properly aligned
- Metallosis (metal poisoning)
These complications led to a second surgery – called revision surgery – in a large number of patients. The chief reason for removing ASR systems is the eroding of the ball and socket components, which rub against each other over time. This erosion unleashes minuscule metal particles that result in fluid collection in the joint and the muscles around the joint in many patients. The fluid collection creates swelling that causes pain and difficulty walking.
Contact our Reading, Pennsylvania injury lawyers for assistance with your pharmaceutical injury or faulty medical device claims. At The Brod Law Firm our personal injury attorneys have been the voice for drug injury victim's rights for over 30 years. Speak to top Reading Drug Injury lawyer, Gary Brod at 888-435-7946 (888-HELPWIN) for a free no obligation consultation and explanation of your legal rights. There also is the option of an easy online or phone sign-up process and we can begin work today. Even if you are not sure you have a case your call is always welcome and there is no charge for our legal advice.
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