A Florida man is suing Johnson & Johnson, manufacturer of the DePuy Pinnacle metal on metal hip that he received in a hip replacement surgery 13 years ago.

The lawsuit alleges that despite knowing of metal on metal hip replacement problems with other similar devices in the past, Johnson & Johnson relied on a proven faulty design when it created and marketed the DePuy Pinnacle System.

What Is Hip Replacement Surgery?

The most common reasons people have hip replacement surgery is to eliminate problems from arthritis, which can cause hip pain and decreased mobility.

A hip replacement surgery can also be necessary if the hip joint is diseased or fractured.

In the human body, the femur connects to the pelvis via the hip joint, which consists of the femoral head (a ball-like mechanism at the top of the femur) that rotates around the acetabulum (the cup-like part at the bottom of the pelvis).

A healthy hip consists of a strong femur and a strong acetabulum that are cushioned and lubricated by cartilage and fluids, which allow ease of movement.

Traditional hip replacement surgery involves removing the head of the femur and the acetabulum and replacing them with artificial replacement parts.

The Pinnacle Metal on Metal Hip Replacement

The Pinnacle Metal on Metal hip replacement system consists of four components: the metal femoral stem, which is inserted inside the femur bone; the metal femoral head (ball) connects to the top of the stem and makes contact with a liner, which is inserted into the interior portion of the metal acetabulum cup (socket).

The acetabulum cup is made of titanium metal on the outer shell. The cobalt-chromium liner ensures that metal is rubbing on metal.

More than 1,085 adverse event reports were submitted to the FDA by 2011. Soft tissue reactions, tumor growth and metal poisoning were among the identified issues.

Hip Replacement Lawsuit

In November 2003, the plaintiff received a Pinnacle metal on metal hip replacement surgery for his right hip.

Over the course of several years, he experienced right hip pain that greatly increased over time. He was unable to fully engage in the activities of daily living because of the pain.

He became fatigued and experienced swelling. A blood test done in September 2014 showed evidence of elevated cobalt levels.

Due to the premature failure of the Pinnacle metal on metal hip replacement parts and the presence of metal poisoning, the plaintiff endured a hip revision surgery in December 2014.

Shamefully, DePuy published a brochure in 2001 that stated that devices including the McKee-Farrar, Muller and Ring prostheses were “poorly designed and inadequately manufactured.”

Yet, those were the components that DePuy used as the basis of its Pinnacle metal on metal hip replacement design.

If you or someone you know has had a metal on metal hip replacement and suffered any harmful consequences, you could benefit from a hip replacement lawsuit against the implant’s manufacturer.

The Metal on Metal Hip Replacement Surgery Lawsuit is Case No. 3:16-cv-1708, in the United States District Court Northern District of Texas Dallas Division.