Houston Shoulder Pain Pump Injury Lawyer
About Intra-Articular Pain Pumps / Shoulder Pain Pumps
To alleviate a patient's pain in the aftermath of arthroscopic shoulder surgery, physicians have used post-operative pain pumps such as those manufactured by Stryker, I-Flow, Breg and Donjoy. The pumps – also called intra-articular pain pumps or shoulder pain pumps – are used to directly infuse a local anesthetic into the area where the shoulder surgery was performed sometimes for up to 72 hours after operation.
Since 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported severe adverse side effects associated with these shoulder pain pumps, including the development of a painful condition, Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis (PAGCL), in which cartilage deteriorates in the shoulder joint. These victims deserve compensation. If you believe that you or a loved one is suffering side effects connected to a shoulder pain pump, it's important to contact a Houston personal injury attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP today.
Problems Associated with Post-Operative Pain Pumps
In 2010, the FDA came out with a review of 35 reports it had received of patients who suffered from PAGCL after receiving continuous, post-operative injections of local anesthetics through an "elastomeric infusion device." The patients' symptoms included:
- Persistent joint pain;
- Stiffness of the joint; and
- Significant decrease or loss of motion
According to the FDA, the patients were, on average, diagnosed with chondrolysis within eight to nine months after the infusion, with some seeing symptoms arise in as few as two months following the treatment. Almost all of these cases occurred after shoulder operations, with two cases involving knee operations. The average age of the patients was 25-years-old.
The FDA said it could not be determined if the cause of the chondrolysis was the local anesthetics (bupivacaine, chlorprocaine, lidocaine, mepivacaine, procaine and ropivacaine), the infusion device or a combination of factors. However, the FDA noted that "both the local anesthetics and the elastomeric infusion devices – or any other type of device used for intra-articular infusions – are not approved or cleared by the FDA for continuous intra-articular infusion." In other words, these pharmaceuticals and medical devices may have been improperly marketed and administered to patients.
Our Aggressive Approach to Shoulder Pain Pump Injury Cases
Since 2010, the FDA has required drug makers to warn about the serious side effects associated with shoulder pain pumps on product labels. The FDA is also studying how to address safety issues dealing with the infusion devices. This response however, does not provide relief to those who have suffered injuries from shoulder pain pumps prior to the FDA's warning, including those who have needed to undergo arthroplasty – or joint replacement – as a result of the harm they've suffered.
Additionally, patients may continue to be exposed to the side effects linked to these pumps, including use of the pumps after surgeries involving the knees. At Arnold & Itkin LLP, our injury lawyers believe in taking an aggressive approach to protecting patients' rights, even when we are pitted against large medical device companies. We exhaustively research and investigate every case, including consulting with highly qualified medical experts. By investing our resources, hard work and dedication, we're confident in our ability to deliver successful results – whether it's a settlement at the negotiating table or a verdict in the courtroom.
Our attorneys have tried cases in state and federal courts across the country, including several cases in which they have served on the steering committees in complex, multi-district litigation (MDL). Our goal is to make our clients' world a better place. We strive to obtain compensation for our clients that will pay for their medical expenses, including any therapy, medication or arthroplasty that may be required as a result of being treated for pain with an intra-articular pain pump. We also seek funds that will cover our clients' lost wages and the pain and suffering they have endured.
If you have suffered from a shoulder pain pump and are looking for reliable legal representation in your claim, please contact a Houston pharmaceutical injury lawyer from our firm today.