Defective Medical Device

November 10, 2015

New 3D Knee Replacement Technology

According to a recent news article from WRAL, when a patient goes into the operating room to have total knee replacement surgery, the doctor will typically choose an implant size most appropriate to the patient. Essentially, artificial knees come in a variety of sizes, much like a pair shoes, and it is up to the surgeon to find the best fit.

While it may be the way it is done hundreds of thousands to time a year, the best fit for an artificial knee implant device is not always the perfect fit. When an artificial knee is not a perfect fit, it can lead to abnormal movement, including rocking that can ultimately cause the implant to loosen or even fail. This will lead to a tremendous amount of pain and suffering for the patient and can even mean the patient will have to have a second or subsequent surgery to have the artificial knee replaced with a newer or different model. This means that patient will have surgery again, then go through a long and painful rehab, and possibly miss a considerable amount of work as a result. Continue reading

October 20, 2015

71 Year Old Man Skies Following Knee Replacement

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

There is not question that people are living longer these days than ever before. However, not only are people living longer, they are able to live more active lifestyles that they could in years past. One of the reasons for this is because of operations like total knee replacements and total hip replacements.

According to a recent news article from Fox, a 71-year-old man is back on the slopes following a total hip replacement surgery. He was retired and loved to ski. He would be out on the slopes every chance he could get. However, after many years of kayaking, skydiving, and running, has cause serious arthritis in his joints and this joint disease caused him a tremendous amount of pain and suffering as a result of his knee condition. Continue reading

September 9, 2015

IVC Filter Safety Questioned by NBC News Investigation

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

NBC Nightly News recently aired a report that has raised significant questions regarding the safety of a medical device known as an IVC filter. Specifically, the Recovery IVC filters made by BARD have been connected to at least 300 adverse events, including 27 deaths.

The report was just the first in a series the station plans to air in the coming days on these medical devices, which are implanted in thousands of Americans to reduce the risk of blood clots. It’s a 1.5-inch piece of metal that is inserted into the vena cava, a major vein, and has the ability to block blood clots from traveling to the heart or the lungs, where they have the potential to be fatal.

Journalists disclosed a 2004 confidential study commissioned by the maker of the product, C.R. Bard, in which it reveals this particular product had a higher rate of injury and fatalities when compared to those who used competitor product. These devices appear to be perforating, migrating, breaking or, in some cases, actually causing clogs rather than preventing clots. Despite this, Bard, a multinational product manufacturer, did not recall its product.

Despite the fact that researchers who conducted the study clearly stated further investigation of this matter was “urgently warranted.” Continue reading

February 19, 2015

McClellan v. I-Flow Corp. – Pain Pump Litigation to Continue

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

In recent years, product liability lawyers have seen a growing number of injuries filed by individuals who developed severe cartilage damage in their shoulders following minimally invasive surgery.

The suspected culprit is a type of shoulder “pain pump” used to deliver medication directly into the joint after surgical joint procedures. Usually, the device is filled with various pain medications, and the idea is to deliver the medication quickly and directly to the site of surgery.

Problematically, this procedure has been linked to the development of a debilitating condition known as chondrolysis. This means there is virtually no cartilage between the bones, and joints can become fused and completely immobile. Usually, by the time the condition is discovered and diagnosed, there is no treatment or cure. The condition is typically discovered between three and 12 months after surgery.
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November 5, 2014

Boston Device Manufacturer is Creating Custom Artificial Knees Using 3D Printing

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Over the past decade, we have seen huge increases in the number of patients having total knee replacement surgical procedures. Doctors and medical device manufacturers have essentially been telling older patients that with a total knee replacement, they will be free of pain and have the same degree of mobility enjoyed in youth.

Along with an increase in total knee replacements, we have seen an increase in postoperative patients suffering from serious complications as result of the surgery, including increased pain and, in some cases, a total failure of the artificial joint.
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September 20, 2014

Chapman, et al. v. The Procter & Gamble Dist., et al.: On Scientific Evidence in Products Liability Cases

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

As our Boston products liability attorneys can explain, the use of a qualified and knowledgeable expert can significantly increase a plaintiff’s chance of obtaining complete financial recovery.

Chapman, et al. v. The Procter & Gamble Dist., et al., an appeal heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, involved a plaintiff who alleged that she developed myelopathy as a result of using a particular brand of denture adhesive two times a week over an eight-year period.

Myelopathy is a spinal court disorder that affects a patient’s extremities. Plaintiff claimed that she developed a variety of neurological symptoms from 2006 to 2009. Plaintiff asserted that her condition was, specifically, a zinc-induced copper deficiency that was a result of using the denture adhesive.

Evidence was presented to show that defendant introduced zinc into its denture adhesive in the 1990s to improve the functionality of the product by increasing adhesion.

One case report from 2008 presented the hypothesis that zinc in denture adhesives could cause the user to become copper deficient, and this could cause a neurological condition. After this study came out, lawsuits were filed across the country against the manufacturers of dental adhesives.
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June 23, 2014

Knee Replacements Rise with Rates of Obesity

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Knee replacement surgeries are on the rise, even in younger patients. New research suggests the number of knee replacements is parallel to the rising rate of obesity. Analysts report that the demand for the surgery is increasing, almost parallel with the rates of the overweight and obese in Boston and throughout the United States. According to the study, 95% of individuals who are in-line for or considering knee replacements have associated weight problems. This spike in knee replacement surgery for the obese and among young people has created the potential for defective replacements and the need for additional surgeries.

While doctors and experts may advise patients to seek knee replacements, patients should be aware of the potential risks associated with knee replacement products. Our Boston defective medical device attorneys are experienced in representing individuals who have suffered harm resulting from defective knee products. In addition to providing advocacy to our clients, we are committed to staying abreast of research, trends, and legal developments related to knee replacement products.
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May 6, 2014

Spinal Implants Causing Paralysis, According to Recent Lawsuits

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Spinal implants, like those manufactured by Boston Scientific Corp., Medtronic and St. Jude Medical Inc., are geared toward helping patients cope with chronic back pain or nerve damage.

But a recent Wall Street Journal report reveals that in far too many cases, patients are emerging from the procedure unable to feel at all. Some suffer from partial paralysis. Others have reported experiencing progressive quadriparesis, which is a gradual weakening of each of the four limbs. Other patients report total paraplegia, and are now confined to a wheelchair.

Boston product liability attorneys know that while manufacturers are staunchly defending these devices, pointing to the fact that some 50,000 spinal implants are conducted annually, no one is eager to slow down and reevaluate the safety of a product that has become an increasingly lucrative aspect of these firms’ business.
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April 21, 2014

FDA Approves Drug to Prevent Pulmonary Embolism for Implant Patients

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

As an increasing number of Americans are faced with the difficult decision of whether to pursue hip or knee replacements, an increasing number of cases involving complications. This has given rise to hundreds of thousands of lawsuits, millions in medical expenses, and ongoing health issues for patients. Now Bristol-Meyers Squibb has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new supplemental drug for deep vain thrombosis, which could result in pulmonary embolism in patients who have undergone hip or knee replacement surgery.

The new drug, known as Eliquis is intended to prevent deep pain thrombosis in patients who have undergone hip or knee replacement. Advocates for the drug claim that the approval is a significant milestone for the medication and for the patients who suffer from additional health risks associated with knee and hip implants. Our Boston products liability attorneys are dedicated to helping victims or defective or dangerous products recover just compensation for their injuries. In addition to pursuing financial claims, we are committed to raising awareness surrounding the complications associated with medical device injury.
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April 5, 2014

FDA Reports Dramatic Increase in Medical Device Recalls

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Medical device recalls have increased dramatically in the past 10 years. A detailed report provided by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicated that there was a 97 percent increase in the number of medical devices recalled annually from fiscal year 2003 to fiscal year 2012.

The FDA attributes the increase in recalls to enhanced awareness by medical device firms, especially those firms that were cited repeatedly for violations of safety rules and standards. Efforts by the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) to improve device safety were also listed as a reason for the higher recall numbers.
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