A Texas plaintiff has filed a bundled complaint against DePuy, alleging that the company knowingly sold defective total hip replacement systems, placing patients at an unreasonable risk.

Plaintiff Terrence F. underwent total hip replacement surgery in November 2008. After he had this surgery, he began experiencing hip replacement problems, according the hip replacement lawsuit.

The device allegedly wore down, releasing large amounts of toxic metal particles into the plaintiff’s blood, tissue, and bone. As a result, Terrance has experienced a great deal of pain and inflammation surrounding the implant.

Because of this chronic pain, Terrance was force to undergo revision surgery in November 2014. It took the plaintiff this many years to realize the link between the hip implant and his painful symptoms because he was unaware that there was a possibility for the device to be defective.

The hip replacement lawsuit claims that, not only was the Pinnacle Device defectively designed, but the device’s warning labels failed to adequately warn of the device’s risks. The hip replacement lawsuit alleges that DePuy actively concealed the device’s defects, as well as its early rate of failure and known complications of hip replacement with the device.

Terrence is filing this lawsuit along with nine other named plaintiffs who all allege similar hip replacement problems. The plaintiffs also claim that DePuy never sought premarket approval from the FDA, which means that the FDA cannot have officially found the device to be safe and effective.

Had the plaintiffs been adequately informed of these risks, they may not have had the device implanted in the first place and could have avoided these painful hip replacement problems.

About the DePuy Pinnacle Total Hip Replacement System

The specific total hip replacement device involved in these allegations is the DePuy Pinnacle Acetabular Cup System, or Pinnacle Device. The Pinnacle Device was put out onto the market in 2001, and was intended to replace hip joints damaged by a number of conditions.

The DePuy Pinnacle Device is widely popular. According to the manufacturers, almost 150,000 people have gone through a total hip replacement with a Pinnacle Device.

However, a portion of these patients have ended up reporting hip replacement problems connected with the device. According to the hip replacement lawsuit, over 1,300 separate adverse events reports have been filed with the FDA involving Pinnacle hip replacement problems.

Though DePuy markets its device as safe and effect, the hip replacement lawsuit alleges that the company is aware that the Pinnacle Device is linked with a number of hip replacement problems, including metallosis, biologic toxicity, and a high failure rate.

The DePuy hip implant systems have already been taken off the Australian market because of its early and high rate of failure.

If you or someone you know has experienced hip replacement problems due to a total hip replacement such as the Pinnacle Device from DePuy or another metal-on-metal hip implant, you may be able to file a hip replacement lawsuit.

The DePuy Pinnacle Hip Replacement Lawsuit is Case No. 3:16-cv-00170-K, in the U.S. District Court for the Dallas Division of the Northern District of Texas.