A man from Connecticut recently filed a DePuy Pinnacle lawsuit after discovering DePuy Orthopaedics and parent company Johnson & Johnson allegedly knew about the potentially defective nature of their metal-on-metal hip replacement system.

The DePuy Pinnacle lawsuit alleges Johnson & Johnson and DePuy were aware that numerous patients had submitted injury reports regarding the all-metal hip implant, and allegedly did nothing to warn the claimant or his orthopedic physician.

Plaintiff Robert D. also alleges he suffered serious injuries in his DePuy Pinnacle lawsuit, which were reportedly not mentioned on the product’s warning label.

Like other patients looking to restore hip function after suffering the effects of arthritis or other bone deterioration, Robert agreed to have the DePuy Pinnacle system implanted after being assured it was a safe and reliable prosthetic from the manufacturer.

According to the lawsuit, Robert underwent total right hip replacement surgery on Feb. 7, 2005 and had the metal-on-metal hip replacement system implanted. After experiencing no initial complications from his right hip replacement, he had the same DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement system implanted on his left side on Dec. 28, 2005.

Similarly, Robert did not experience any initial complications from this procedure and had no reason to believe he was at risk for serious metal-on-metal hip implant complications.

However, the DePuy Pinnacle lawsuit states this changed in 2017 when he reportedly began experiencing pain and difficulty walking. On Sept. 17, 2017, Robert was reportedly hospitalized due to severe joint prosthesis infection, pain and high fever.

Overview of DePuy Pinnacle Metal Hip Implant Complications

Due to these complications, Robert says he underwent revision surgery in which the first DePuy Pinnacle device was reportedly explanted and a cement spacer was used as a temporary replacement.

He says that during this revision procedure, it was noted that “metallic debris and pseudotumors” were found allegedly as a result of the metal-on-metal hip implants. Robert says he continued vigorous treatment for prosthetic joint infection and eventually underwent revision surgery on his right side on Nov. 15, 2017.

Even though both allegedly defective metal hip implants have been removed, Robert reportedly continues to suffer post surgical complications related to infection including ambulatory impairment and severe blood loss.

According to the DePuy Pinnacle lawsuit, Robert underwent three blood tests between Nov. 28, 2017 and April 12, 2018, each of which indicated he had abnormally high cobalt and chromium levels suggesting he was still suffering from metallosis.

Also called blood metal poisoning, metallosis can be caused by the metal ball and socket joint components interacting inside the patient and shedding metal fragments and heavy metals into the blood. This can lead to a multitude of other complications including infection, debilitating pain, tissue death and formation of pseudotumors, each of which make the patient’s life much more difficult.

According to the DePuy Pinnacle lawsuit, the manufacturers were allegedly aware of the high failure rates associated with the metal-on-metal hip implant when it was recommended to Robert.

The lawsuit further states that DePuy had to previously recall 93,000 ASR And ASR XL metal on metal hip implants for similar complications, which indicates DePuy may have been aware that the DePuy Pinnacle device could carry similar risks.

Robert states he would not have opted for the DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement system if he had known about the high failure rates associated with the products.

This DePuy Pinnacle Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-02002-KAD, in the U.S. District Court of Connecticut.