A jury in Texas recently awarded a $502 million verdict against Johnson & Johnson in a case involving their defective DePuy Pinnacle hip implant device. This news came after 37 days of testimony from both sides and input from expert witnesses. An article out of The Expert Institute reported on the recent jury decision. This 10-week trial in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Texas involved five plaintiffs who received the allegedly defective DePuy Pinnacle hip implants. They were awarded $142 million in compensatory damages and an additional $360 million in punitive damages. The outcome of this trial will likely impact additional upcoming lawsuits for around 7,000 patients across the nation.
Defective DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implant
These metal-on-metal hip replacement devices have been fraught with problems ever since they hit the market. The DePuy Pinnacle implant devices are used for patients who require complete hip replacements. This includes a replacement of both the socket and the top of the thighbone. Unfortunately, in the Pinnacle device, both of these parts are made of metal. Like in any joint capsule, there is a lot of movement going on, and these components can rub against each other. This causes the metal pieces to release debris inside the body. This can lead to elevated blood levels of both cobalt and chromium ions. There can also be structural integrity problems, and many patients have to undergo an additional revision surgery to remove the implant due to complications.
Complications of DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implants
- Implant loosening
- Metal poisoning of the blood
- Shedding of metallic debris in the body
- Difficulty walking or standing
- Extreme pain
- Intense soft tissue damage
- Complete failure of hip implant device
What to do if Your DePuy Pinnacle Hip Implant Fails?
First and foremost, you need to speak with your doctor about the immediate medical complications and issues you’re dealing with. If you have a DePuy Pinnacle hip implant device and you’re having any kind of abnormal pain or other issue, contact your doctor immediately. Once your immediate and pressing medical needs have been addressed, you need to get into contact with a personal injury lawyer.
If you or a loved one has suffered from complications of a defective DePuy Pinnacle hip implant device, contact the skilled and proven team at the Altman Legal Group at (940) 761-4000 for a free case consultation.