DePuy Pinnacle

DePuy Orthopaedics faces criticism that its DePuy Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip implant has an unreasonably high failure rate. The DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement concerns are in addition to problems with the DePuy Orthopaedic ASR XL Acetabular hip replacement. The DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement is a metal-on-metal design. Although the Pinnacle hip replacement is similar to the DePuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip Systems and the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System, the DePuy Pinnacle Acetabular Cup System has not been recalled.

The DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement is a metal-on-metal design that allows the surgeon to choose which type of liner to place inside the outer cup. The surgeon can choose between a metal liner, ceramic liner or polyethylene liner.

From January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received 548 adverse event reports regarding various DePuy Pinnacle products. Some of those adverse event reports included situations in which the patient required revision surgery because the implant was loosening or coming out of position. While the adverse reports continue to be tracked by the FDA, no official statement has been made as to whether the loose implants are due to defective DePuy Pinnacle implants or errors occurring during implantation.
  The problem with early failure of the DePuy hip replacement is that patients are then required to go through hip revision surgery much earlier than expected. Usually, hip replacements are expected to last 10 to 15 years. With early failure, patients must undergo revision surgery much sooner than that. Revision surgery comes with its own risks and is generally more complicated than the implant surgery.
  So far, there has not been a DePuy Pinnacle Recall announced. Whether or not the DePuy Pinnacle will eventually go the way of the DePuy ASR Acetabular hip devices remains to be seen. Lawsuits have been filed against DePuy, alleging the metal-on-metal design of the DePuy Pinnacle hip device allows metal debris to come loose from the device, ultimately being absorbed by the patient's surrounding tissue. Those lawsuits, however, have not resulted in DePuy recalling its Pinnacle hip replacement device.
  In May 2011, the Multi-District Litigation Panel reportedly heard arguments concerning the venue for consolidated DePuy Pinnacle lawsuits. The DePuy Pinnacle lawsuits are being consolidated for discovery and pre-trial motions. Following the pre-trial motions, which will occur in the Northern District of Texas, a bellwether DePuy Pinnacle lawsuit trial schedule could be set up. According to reports, 57 DePuy lawsuits were consolidated in the multi-district litigation.
 

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Last updated on Mar-24-20