Getting Fair Compensation for Joint Pain Caused by Pain Pumps
Cleveland, Ohio Medical Malpractice Attorneys
It is tragically ironic that a pain management method developed to reduce the pain of shoulder and knee surgery has instead been found to cause cartilage deterioration and severe ongoing pain.
Why, after some 25 years of successful use, would pain pumps now be causing injury? In 2000, pain pump manufacturers began advising doctors to reposition the pump to deliver medication into the space between the bones of the joint (the intra-articular or synovial space). This change was never approved by the FDA and had not been thoroughly investigated.
The problem lies not with the pain pump itself, but with the infusion of certain types of pain medication — Bupivacaine and epinephrine — directly into the joint. These drugs can seriously impair or completely eliminate cartilage cells. The result: in some studies, more than half of patients developed a medical condition called glenohumeral chondrolysis (cartilage disintegration).
Glenohumeral chondrolysis results in excruciating pain requiring joint surgery and possibly joint replacement.
If you had knee or shoulder surgery after 2000 and developed severe joint pain, you may have been the victim of a defective product or medical negligence. Talk with an experienced lawyer who can help you understand your situation and your rights. Contact the Cleveland law office of Seaman Garson.
We are one of the largest, most established medical malpractice and personal injury law firms in Ohio. We have the attorneys, resources and access to medical experts that allow us to prove complicated medical malpractice and product liability cases.
Is Your Joint Pain the Result of Manufacturer Negligence?
There are three primary manufacturers of pain pumps (also called anesthetic pain control infusion devices): Stryker Corporation, I-Flow Corporation, and DJO. Their product lines include:
- SoakerTM Catheters (I-Flow)
- ON-Q® PainBuster® Post Operative Pain Relief System (I-Flow)
- C-BlocTM Continuous Nerve Block System (I-Flow)
- Outbound Pain Pump (Stryker)
- DonJoy® Pain Control Device (DJO)
Stryker and I-Flow have a clear history of failing to test and improperly advising doctors. In fact, Striker knew that there were no scientific studies to support the direct infusion of Bupivacaine into the joint space, and they knew that the FDA had rejected such use. This demonstrates clear disregard for the safety of patients.
It's Never Easy to Go Up Against a Large Corporation
Medical product manufacturers have big budgets and company attorneys. When confronted with a problem with their devices, they do not quickly or easily make changes. They do not settle. They fight.
At Seaman Garson, we're up to the fight. Our attorneys are experienced in trial court. If we believe you have a case, we will put the full resources of our firm behind you. We will conduct a thorough investigation, and advance the cost of that investigation with the expectation that we will make a financial recovery for you. If we are unable to obtain a recovery in your case, you owe us nothing.
Protect Your Rights: Free Attorney Consultation
For help from an experienced products liability attorney, contact our Cleveland law office to arrange a free consultation. Whether or not you ultimately decide to hire our law firm, one of our attorneys will listen to your story and explain your legal options.
